Gulls Edge Ice Dogs, 4-3

Published on January 24, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


LONG BEACH, Calif. – Chris Gobert scored twice and Mark Pederson extended his point streak to 12 games as the San Diego Gulls edged the Long Beach Ice Dogs 4-3 Friday night, before 3,249 at the Long Beach Arena. The Gulls are now unbeaten in their last 19 games against the Ice Dogs.

San Diego's last regulation loss to Long Beach came Oct. 26, 2002. Since then, the Gulls are 18-0-1 against their Southern California rival, including a 5-0-1 mark this season. The only time the Blue and Orange haven't come away with two points over the last 19 head-to-head games was in a 1-0 shootout loss on Nov. 15.

Gobert led the way for the Blue and Orange with two goals, while Dean Tiltgen chipped in with two assists. Pederson, who earned one helper, extended his point streak to 12 games, tied for second longest in the ECHL this season. The Gulls (24-10-3) jumped out to a quick 2-0 first-period lead, scoring on their first two shots. Sandro Sbrocca struck first at 3:18, beating Colin Zulianello for his third goal of the season. David Neale and Trent Clark worked the puck to the left circle, where Sbrocca broke free to knock it home.

Gobert then potted his first of the night at 5:33 to give San Diego a two-goal cushion. Eric Skaug started the play, springing an open Tiltgen up the right wing boards. Zulianello saved Tiltgen's ensuing shot, but the rebound caromed to Gobert, who fired a wicked wrister just underneath the crossbar.

The Ice Dogs (12-24-2) carried a large shot advantage through the first period, but couldn't solve David Burleigh. They kept chipping away and tied the game midway through the second.

Ken Tasker made it 2-1 with a breakaway goal at 4:55. Nolan Graham had the puck inside the Gulls blue line and found Tasker, who just jumped onto the ice after serving a penalty. Tasker skated in one-on-one against Burleigh and slid a backhander underneath the rookie netminder for his second goal of the year.

Dan Vandermeer tied it at 9:57, banking one in off Burleigh from the right wing corner.

San Diego came right back with two more tallies 1:22 apart, again on two consecutive shots. Gobert cashed in his second of the game – ninth of the season – at 13:16 of the second, burying a shot from the right wing circle. Greg Barber then notched his 13th marker at 14:38, redirecting home Dan Cousineau's shot from the right point. Pederson was credited with the second assist.

Long Beach scored again just 13 seconds after Barber's goal, cutting the lead to 4-3. Trevor Read was the beneficiary this time, after his shot from the blue line bounced through a couple of bodies past a screened Burleigh. It was Read's sixth goal, third in an Ice Dogs uniform.

The Ice Dogs' best chance to re-tie the contest came midway through the third period when they were awarded a two-man advantage for 35 seconds. San Diego's stingy penalty killing unit, which entered the day second in the ECHL, thwarted the attack and held on for the one-goal victory.

Notes: Pederson has 21 points (14g, 7a) during his 12-game point streak... Barber has 11 points (4g, 7a) in his last seven games... Sylvain Deschatelets, who didn't get a point Friday night, has 18 points (3g, 15a) in the last 12 games... The Gulls are unbeaten in 16 of their last 19 games (15-3-1), outscoring their opponents 66-42... San Diego is 22-7-3 against Pacific Division teams... The Blue and Orange, who were assessed no penalties on Sunday, didn't receive their first infraction Friday until midway through the second period. It was their first penalty in 75:08... The Gulls have now killed 103 of their last 111 penalties... Billy Tibbetts returned from the American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons. He should be back in the lineup Saturday... Josh Gratton remains with the AHL's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks... J.J. Hartmann signed before Friday's game... Kevin Grant remains out of the lineup with a neck strain...

The Gulls return home to face the Bakersfield Condors Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's game starts at 7:05 p.m. and kids jerseys, presented by Payless Rent-A-Car, will be given to the first 2,000 youngsters 14 and under. Sunday's game is a 5:05 p.m. start and "Skate with the Gulls" will be held immediately afterward. All games can be heard live on KPOP 1360AM with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The Gulls Internet radio show, hosted by Tera Black and Jeremy Zager, airs again on Monday, Feb. 2 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on wsRadio.com.

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ECHL Stories from January 24, 2004


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