Gulls Earn Fourth Straight Win; Beat Louisiana, 4-3
January 16, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO â From the opening faceoff to the final buzzer, it was a wide-open game between the San Diego Gulls and Louisiana IceGators. San Diego, however, had the last laugh, defeating Louisiana 4-3 Saturday night, before 8,329 at the Sports Arena.
Teams combined for a total of 72 shots, 41 of which were registered by the Gulls (19-11-4), who have now won four in a row and move eight games above .500 for the first time this season. The Ice Gators (16-18-3) had two one-goal leads in the game, but couldn't hold either as they fell for the ninth time in their last 12 games.
San Diego drew first blood 3:38 into the opening frame on Mark Pederson's eighth goal of the season. Brian Gornick started the play after barreling into the right wing boards and taking the puck away. Sylvain Deschatelets then grabbed Gornick's pass and dished it across the crease to Pederson, who easily tapped it past Louisiana goaltender Nathan Marsters.
The IceGators, however, netted back-to-back goals 96 seconds apart shortly after to go ahead 2-1. Wes Mason, who entered the day tied for fourth in the ECHL in points, tallied first at 4:15, beating Gulls netminder Mathieu Chouinard for his 18th marker of the year. Dan Sullivan then lit the lamp at 5:51 with his fourth goal, beating Chouinard with another backhander from just outside the crease.
Max Birbraer knotted things up for San Diego with a power-play goal 20 seconds into the second period. Curtis Brown picked off an errant Louisiana pass, spun around and dropped it back to the top of the slot. Birbraer, standing right there, grabbed possession and punched in his ninth goal with a snap shot that just trickled behind Marsters.
David Bararuk regained Louisiana's lead 4:10 into the third period with a power-play goal. Randy Dagenais had the puck at the right point and whipped a cross-ice feed to Bararuk, who skated into the left circle and beat Chouinard with a rising wrist shot. It was his 11th marker of the season.
The Gulls quickly responded with their second power-play goal of the night at the 7:30 mark, making it a 3-3 game. Defenseman Nikita Korovkin was the beneficiary this time, creeping in from the point and knocking home Scott Border's original shot that Marsters stopped. San Diego all-star Andrew Canzanello also assisted on the goal, which was Korovkin's fifth of the year.
Scott Borders scored what proved to be the game-winner at 11:38, banking in a shot from behind the net off the back of Marsters' pad. Brown, who earned his second assist on the play, fired a shot from the right wing that sailed wide. Garrow tried to whack it, but the puck came to Borders, who registered his fifth goal.
Notes: The Gulls have outscored their opponents 16-10 during their four-game winning streak... They are 12-3-2 at home this season... San Diego is 2-1-0 against teams outside its division; with 10 games remaining against non-West Division teams this season... Brown is now in the midst of a seven-game point streak (3g, 8a)... Gornick, who chipped in with an assist Saturday, has scored nine goals in his last 14 games... The Gulls have allowed 24 power-play goals in their last 18 games... San Diego still has six regulars out of the lineup: Evgueni Nourislamov (sprained knee), Sean Murphy (broken thumb), Jonathon Shockey (separated shoulder), Sean O'Connor (charley horse), Guillaume Fournier (concussion-like symptoms) and Trevor Koenig (elbow tendonitis)...
San Diego continues its homestand Wednesday against the Las Vegas Wranglers, with game-time set for 7:05 p.m. It will be a "Casino Night" Wacky Wednesday, featuring two Blackjack tables on the concourse. Fans who participate will be playing for the charity, "Partying for a Purpose." The Gulls host the Wranglers again on Friday before closing out the first half of the season Saturday, Jan. 22 against the Pensacola Ice Pilots.
All games can be heard live on KLSD 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. All home games and many road games can be viewed on the Gulls' web site, courtesy of B2 Networks. Click the B2 Networks link on the home page for a list of the upcoming telecasted games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.sdgullsphotos.com and www.zerodogentertainment.com.
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ECHL Stories from January 16, 2005
- Steelheads lose rubber match to Ice Pilots, 5-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Ice Dogs Beat Victoria Again, 4-2 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Royals Quiet Storm with Early Burst, Win 4-2 - Reading Royals
- Gladiators Weekly Update - Atlanta Gladiators
- Salmon Kings Weekly Report - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Defenseman Byrne Returned to Worcester - Peoria Rivermen
- Gators split 4 games in 3 time zones - Louisiana IceGators
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Ryan Vince Placed On Seven Day Injured Reserve - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Aces rally to grab point in another 2-1 loss - Alaska Aces
- Falcons Prevail in Shootout - Fresno Falcons
- Salmon Kings struggles continue against the Ice Dogs - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Bakersfield Now Unbeaten in Eight - Bakersfield Condors
- Ice Dogs Winners Over Victoria, 4-1 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Gators downed by Gulls 4-3 - Louisiana IceGators
- Gulls Earn Fourth Straight Win; Beat Louisiana, 4-3 - San Diego Gulls
- Steelheads down Ice Pilots, 2-1 - Idaho Steelheads
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