Gulls Down Sabercats, 6-1
March 31, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
Gulls Newcomers Contribute with Five Goals
TACOMA, Wash. ââ Newcomers Cory Laylin, Tony Iob and Rusty Fitzgerald combined for five goals, while John Spoltore contributed with four assists as the San Diego Gulls creamed the Tacoma Sabercats, 5-1, before 5,618 at The Tacoma Dome Saturday night. San Diego now needs only two more points to clinch its seventh Southern Division title.
Marty Flichel gave the Sabercats (29-32-6) the early 1-0 lead, jumping on a loose rebound in front of the net and blasting a shot past Trevor Koenig at 6:09. It was Flichel's team-leading 31st goal of the season, and sixth against San Diego. Laylin, beginning his second stint in blue and orange, struck twice late in the period to swing the lead over to the Gulls (44-20-3). His first goal came at 14:55 when he skated around faked-out Tacoma goaltender Mike Brusseau and found himself with an empty net. Laylin fired home his second 1:46 later with San Diego working on a two-man advantage. Spoltore earned assists on both Laylin goals, which extends his point streak to 12 games. He has 31 points during that span.
San Diego took a two-goal lead on Petr Marek's 14th goal at 5:32 of the second period. Marek followed up his original shot, which hit the post, and knocked in the rebound past Brusseau. Then Iob gave the Gulls a commanding 4-1 lead with his second goal at 14:43. The Blue and Orange carried is lead into the third period and are now 33-1 when leading after two. (The only loss came on Opening Night in Long Beach.)
Fitzgerald put the game away with two goals in the final frame. His first in a San Diego uniform came midway through the period with Spoltore earning another assist â his fourth of the night. Fitzgerald netted his second at 18:15 off a great setup from Marek.
Notes: Spoltore's 12-game point-scoring streak ties a league high this season. He now leads the league with 108 points and 80 assists. His 80 helpers is a franchise record for one season... Before Spoltore, the Gulls haven't had a player eclipse the 100-point mark since the 1996-97 season... Koenig played in his 60th game, setting a West Coast Hockey League record for goaltender appearances in one season... Mark Woolf served the second of his five-game suspension tonight... Dennis Purdie was placed on the 14-day injured list earlier this week with a separated shoulder... The Gulls also played without the services of Samy Nasreddine, who is also expected to be out of Sunday's lineup.
San Diego's road trip continues Sunday in Tacoma, with game time set for 5:05 p.m. The Gulls end the trip Wednesday in Long Beach before returning home to face the Ice Dogs on Friday. All games can be heard live on 1130AM-KSDO and at www.ksdo.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play.
ECHL Stories from March 31, 2002
- Bombers Clinch First Ever Division Crown - Dayton Bombers
- Tacoma Beats Gulls, 6-3 - San Diego Gulls
- 200,000th Fan to be Honored Tuesday - Fresno Falcons
- Chiefs Fall To Atlantic City - Johnstown Chiefs
- Cincinnati Cyclones Game Summary - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Walby Named to All-ECHL First Team - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Chiefs Pregame Notes vs. Atlantic City - Johnstown Chiefs
- All Along the Coast - ECHL
- Bombers Can Clinch First Ever Division Title Again - Dayton Bombers
- 2001-02 All-ECHL Teams Announced - ECHL
- Gulls Down Sabercats, 6-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Ice Dogs Home Streak Stopped at Nine - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Ice Pilots Bomb Mysticks - Mobile Mysticks
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