Gulls Get Huge Home Win vs. Falcons, 4-0

Published on March 6, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO – Don't count the San Diego Gulls out just yet... They may still be a ways from gaining a playoff spot, but the Gulls gained some ground after spanking the Fresno Falcons 4-0 Saturday night, before 10,804 at the Sports Arena. That's the third largest crowd of the season.

With 15 games left in the regular season, San Diego (29-22-6) now trails the Falcons (32-18-7) by seven points for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division. The Gulls also picked up a point on the Idaho Steelheads, who also trail Fresno by seven points.

The Falcons' loss broke a nine-game unbeaten streak (7-1-2) and was just their second regulation setback in the last 15 games (10-2-3).

San Diego netminder Eddy Ferhi stopped all 31 shots in the contest, en route to his first professional shutout. Sean O'Connor (1g, 1a), Jonathon Shockey (2a) and Grady Moore (2a) all had multipoint games for the Gulls.

Faced with a must-win situation, the Gulls came out firing, opening up an early 2-0 lead. Max Birbraer lit the lamp first 1:22 into the first period with his 16th goal of the season. O'Connor worked the puck loose behind the net and it came to Shockey, jumping in from the point. Shockey then sent a nifty backhand pass across the crease to Birbraer, who easily punched it into the net.

Nikita Korovkin netted a power-play goal at the 12:45 mark of the first, giving San Diego its two-goal cushion. After Korovkin grabbed the puck at the blue line, he sent a wrist shot that sailed through a tangle of bodies and past Fresno goaltender Brett Jaeger. It was his eighth goal of the year. Moore earned his first assist of the night on the play.

Joel Stepp, recently assigned by the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks, increased San Diego's lead to 3-0 at 2:45 of the second period. Similar to their first goal, the Gulls had a defenseman pinching in from the point. This time it was Moore, as he took a pass from Shockey in the right circle and dropped it to Stepp, who flung it over Jaeger's shoulder for his second goal in a San Diego uniform.

The Gulls scored their second power-play goal 9:56 into the middle frame, taking a commanding four-goal lead. O'Connor was the beneficiary this time, redirecting home David Karpa's slapper from the blue line. It was his 19th goal of the season, three of which have come in the last four games.

While San Diego's offense was clicking, its defense was doing the same on the other end. The Falcons, who entered the contest with a five-game unbeaten steak against the Gulls, had trouble getting any sustained attack going through the first two periods. And when they did, Ferhi was right there to thwart the chance.

Fresno found its offensive spark in the third period, out-shooting the Gulls 16-6. But Ferhi remained perfect, stymieing every opportunity. The San Diego netminder has now stopped 119 of his last 125 shots.

Notes: The Gulls finished the season series against the Falcons with a 4-5-0 record and 0-4-0 in Fresno... They are 22-3-1 when scoring four-plus goals in a game, but just 7-19-5 when scoring three or less... San Diego has only out-shot its opponent three times since the all-star break (20 games)... The Gulls are 8-11-2 in their last 21 games... Since the all-star break they are 5-1-1 at home and 3-9-1 on the road... Fresno has still outscored San Diego 22-16 in the last six games... Mike Garrow (concussion), Evgueni Nourislamov (thumb), Chris Lynch (knee) and Nick Ganga (knee) all remain on the injured list...

San Diego goes back on the road for a brief two-game trip before opening a five-game homestand. The Gulls will in Long Beach Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Las Vegas Saturday, March 12 at 7:05 p.m. They return home Sunday, March 13 to face the red-hot Alaska Aces. Game time is set for 5:05 p.m. and it will be Education and Kids Night, featuring "Skate with the Gulls" immediately following the contest.

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 most remaining 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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