Gulls find way to win again

March 14, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO – Sylvain Deschatelets scored twice, including the game-winner midway through the third period, leading the San Diego Gulls to a tight 5-4 win over the Fresno Falcons Saturday night, before 7,303 at the Sports Arena.

It looked as if the Gulls (39-12-10) were going to run away with the game after taking a 4-1 lead midway through the second period. The Falcons, however, scored three straight to tie the game. Fresno (18-37-6) had all the momentum, but Deschatelets made sure San Diego would walk away with the two points as he netted the deciding goal at 10:47 of the third.

It took only 34 seconds for the Gulls to dent the scoreboard, as Deschatelets notched his first goal of the game. The puck was in the left wing corner and Greg Barber poked it to Mark Pederson behind the net. Pederson then dropped it to Deschatelets, who wrapped behind the net and beat Terry Friesen low blocker-side.

San Diego grabbed a 2-0 lead at 8:11 of the first, thanks to a short-handed goal by Billy Tibbets. Brian Gornick rushed down the left wing and unleashed a slap shot that Friesen saved. He couldn't control the rebound, however, and Tibbetts was right there to bang home his 18th goal of the year.

Brian Passmore got the Falcons on the board with a power-play goal at 10:23, cutting the deficit to one. Jordan Landry worked the puck to the right point, where Scott Borders flung a shot toward the net. Passmore picked it off, went to his backhand and stuffed it behind Trevor Koenig for his 16th goal.

Pederson answered at 15:36 of the first, regaining the Gulls' two-goal cushion. Gornick stole the puck at center ice and moved it to Pederson, who skated into the Fresno zone and slapped it top-shelf for his ECHL-leading 40th goal of the season. Mike Brusseau then entered the game in relief of Friesen, who allowed three goals on five shots.

That didn't seem to bother the Gulls as they added to their lead midway through the second period. Evgueni Nourislamov picked off an errant Fresno clearing pass and his ensuing slap shot was redirected in by Chris Gobert. It was Gobert's 17th goal, 15 of which have come with the Blue and Orange. Gornick also garnered an assist, his third of the game.

The Falcons quickly got back in the game moments later as they netted two goals 23 seconds apart, making it a 4-3 game. Mike Sandbeck struck first at 14:17 with his 10 goal, beating Koenig with a slap shot from the slot. Michael Kiesman then notched his 14th marker at 14:40, grabbing a pass from Borders and wristing it home from the left circle.

John Wroblewski scored Fresno's third straight goal 4:21 into the third period, knotting the game at four goals apiece. After taking setup passes from Blair Clarence and Neil Wilkinson, Wroblewski fired a shot from the right circle that beat Koenig high glove-side. It was Wroblewski's ninth goal of the year.

Deschatelets regained the Gulls' lead for good with his second tally of the night – 21st of the season – at 10:47, connecting on a two-on-one rush with Barber. After grabbing a pass from Pederson, Barber rushed into the Fresno zone and dished it to Deschatelets, who redirected it past Brusseau.

Notes: The Gulls have lost in regulation only twice in their last 27 games (18-2-7) and five times in their last 43 games (30-5-8)... San Diego is now 25-5-1 at home this season... The Gulls are 35-9-5 against Pacific Division teams, including a 23-2-0 mark at home. Their remaining 11 regular season games are all against divisional opponents... Pederson has scored a point in 20 straight home games, an ECHL season high. He now has four career 40-goal seasons... Deschatelets has scored a point in 14 of his last 15 games... Koenig is unbeaten in 19 of his last 20 games (13-1-6)... Tibbetts has 17 points (7g, 10a) in his last 10 games... Colin Zulianello was placed on the seven-day injured list, retroactive to Wednesday, with a sore groin. Mike Buckley was signed as the emergency back-up goaltender... Dennis Purdie (sprained shoulder) and Kevin Grant (neck strain) both remain on the injured list... Josh Gratton remains with the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks...

San Diego hits the road Sunday for a 5 p.m. game in Long Beach to close out the weekend. The Gulls return home Friday to face the Falcons before playing in Fresno Saturday, March. 20. The Blue and Orange come back home Sunday, March 21 to host the Bakersfield Condors. All games can be heard live on KPOP 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The next edition of the Gulls Internet Radio show, hosted by Tera Black and Jeremy Zager on wsRadio.com, will air live Monday, March 22 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. To view pictures from this season, visit www.sdgullsphotos.com and www.zerodogentertainment.com.



ECHL Stories from March 14, 2004


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