Gulls Even Series With Gutsy 3-1 Win
April 13, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- There are gutsy performances and then there are gutsy performances. Trevor Koenig took a blindsiding hit in the second period and left the game, barely under his own power. But the all-star netminder returned in the third and held on for the victory, giving the San Diego Gulls a split in Bakersfield.
The Bakersfield Condors grabbed an early 1-0 lead for the second straight game. But San Diego answered with three straight and rode Koenig's heroics to a 3-1 win Saturday night, before 5,291 at Centennial Garden. The best of seven-of-seven series is now tied 1-1 with the next three games at the San Diego Sports Arena.
Koenig had to leave the game - temporarily - with 4:37 left in the second period after being hit from behind by David Bell. The puck was cleared and when Koenig went to play the puck, he was pummeled by the Bakersfield defenseman. Koenig left the ice groggy, but returned at the start of the third period.
The Condors opened the scoring with a power-play goal 10:25 into the first. Guy Dupuis held in Mike Garrow's clearing attempt at the right point and fed a diagonal cross-ice pass to Paul Willett, who one-timed it past Koenig. It was Willett's fifth goal in 13 career playoff games with Bakersfield.
The Gulls found themselves with a long two-man advantage minutes later and cashed in at 13:22 to knot the game. The Condors were 12 seconds away from killing the penalties, but Sylvain Deschatelets grabbed the puck on the doorstep and buried his first goal of the game.
Cory Cyrenne gave San Diego its first lead of the series with another power-play tally 6:27 into the second period. Kevin Grant caught the Condors making a line change and whipped a pass to Cyrenne, who went in all alone and beat Kevin St. Pierre low glove-side.
San Diego was given a five-minute major power play for Bell's hit on Koenig, but couldn't take advantage. Bell was given three major penalties including a game misconduct and match penalty, which means an automatic suspension. Bruce Watson, who came to Koenig's aid, was also kicked out of the game.
Bakersfield had an opportunity with a late power play in the third period when Bryan Vines was called off for using an illegal stick. When St. Pierre was pulled, the Condors had a two-man advantage. The Gulls' stingy defense killed the penalty and Deschatelets scored an empty-netter with 10 seconds left to put the nail in the coffin. It was Deschatelets second goal of the game and third of the postseason.
Notes: The Gulls are 15-4 all-time against the Condors in the postseason, beating them in their previous five series... San Diego has never been eliminated in the first round... David Neale missed his second straight game with food poisoning... Cris Classen faced two shots while Koenig was out
The series shifts back to San Diego for games 3 and 4 Tuesday and Wednesday, both starting at 7 p.m. The Gulls will host Game 5 Friday at 7:30 p.m. All games can be heard live on AM1130-KSDO with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. You can listen to the Gulls Internet Radio Show's archives anytime on wsradio.com, with Tera Black and Jeremy Zager hosting.
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ECHL Stories from April 13, 2003
- Generals Outlast Boardwalk Bullies in Overtime - Greensboro Generals
- Gulls take Game Two - Bakersfield Condors
- Steelheads-Falcons Series Knotted at One - Idaho Steelheads
- Gulls Even Series With Gutsy 3-1 Win - San Diego Gulls
- Falcons Even Series at One - Fresno Falcons
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