Gulls drop Game Two, trail series 0-2

April 13, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


Four First-Period Goals Give Fresno 4-3 Win; Game 3 Friday In San Diego

FRESNO, Calif. - One night after dropping a heart-breaker, the San Diego Gulls got behind the eight-ball early Wednesday in Game 2 and couldn't recover. The Fresno Falcons scored four times in the first period and never looked back en route to a 4-3 victory at the Save Mart Center. Fresno is now up 2-0 in the best-of-seven Pacific Division Semifinals, which swings to San Diego Friday for Game 3.

Fresno, which won a thrilling Game 1 in overtime Tuesday night, carried the momentum Wednesday and jetted out to a 4-0 first period lead. That proved to be huge because the Gulls notched a pair of tallies in the second and one more in the third.

Kelsey Muench got things started for the Falcons 1:37 into the game, picking up a loose puck in the slot and firing it past Weiman. Derek Krestanovich then knocked in a power-play goal at 11:27, converting a rebound off Fraser Clair's original shot from the top of the slot.

The barrage continued just 1:03 later, as Shawn Mather pounced on and punched in a rebound from Matt Deschamps' point shot. Mather, who also assisted on Krestanovich's marker, got another helper on Fresno's fourth goal, which came on a two-man advantage at the 17:57 mark. That's when Dustin VanBallegooie notched his second of the playoffs on a blue line wrister that snuck past a screened Weiman.

Steve Hildenbrand, who scored twice in Game 1, tried to get San Diego kick-started 6:09 into the second period when he netted a power-play goal - his third of the series. Hildenbrand, standing along the left wing boards, took a pass from Grady Moore and blasted a shot behind Falcons goaltender Jamie Holden. Alex Kim also earned an assist, his third of the series.

Cody McLeod made it a 4-2 game at 17:11 of the second, taking advantage of a Fresno turnover behind the net. After a Gulls dump-in, Holden got mixed up with one of his defenseman and lost the puck. McLeod, at the right spot at the right time, grabbed the loose biscuit and easily tucked it in for his second postseason tally.

The deficit was cut to one when Kim scored a short-handed goal 15:57 into the third period. Kim, who had three short-handed markers during the regular season, weaved his way into the Fresno zone and eventually beat Holden on the back-hand.

San Diego, which out-shot Fresno 25 to 16 after the first period, pulled Weiman with 1:59 left in regulation, but couldn't get anything else behind Holden. The Falcons back-stop finished with 28 saves, while Weiman stopped 30 shots.

Notes: The Gulls have been down 0-2 in a series five times and have come back to win the series three times... San Diego is 13-8 all-time in a Game 2... The Gulls have lost five straight playoff games, dating back to 2004... They are 0-8-1 in their last nine games at Save Mart Center, dating back to last season... R.J. Enga, currently on the seven-day injured list, could be activated for Game 3... Mark Adamek, also inactive, is finishing school at Lake Superior State, but could be available if San Diego advances...

The series now shifts back to San Diego for Games 3, 4 and if necessary 5. Game 3 from the ipayOne Center is slated for 7:35 p.m. It will be a special "Playoff Pooch Party," where all fans are invited to bring their dog to the game. Game 4 is Saturday at 7:05 p.m. and the first 5,000 fans will get a special pair of Gulls boxer shorts, courtesy of Coast-to-Coast Tax Service. The Gulls players will hold a special "Boxer Shorts Fashion Show" Thursday at the ipayOne Center, beginning at 3 p.m. Game 5 (if necessary) will be Monday at the ipayOne Center at 7:05 p.m.

All games can be heard live on KLSD 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. All playoff games can also be viewed on the Gulls' web site, courtesy of B2 Networks. Click the B2 Networks (Watch the Game Live) link on the home page for a list of the upcoming viewable games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.zerodogentertainment.com.



ECHL Stories from April 13, 2006


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