Gulls hit goal-scoring jackpot

January 14, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


LAS VEGAS – The San Diego Gulls did what most visitors to Sin City only dream of doing, getting rich quick with three goals in a 63-second span in the first period, a tally that proved to be sufficient enough to seal a 4-3 victory over the Las Vegas Wranglers at the Orleans Arena Thursday night.

The Wranglers (16-14-4) entered the match with the ECHL's number-one power-play scoring unit but it was Gulls (17-11-4) who stole the show with a flurry of goals from Andrew Canzanello, Darren Clark, Chris Lynch and Colin Shields, each of whom snapped double-digit scoreless streaks. San Diego goaltender Mathieu Chouinard made 31 saves while the Gulls' defense checked the Wranglers into going zero-for-six on the power play.

With the victory, their second this season against Las Vegas, the Gulls, with 38 points, now move into a tie with the Fresno Falcons for fourth-place in the West Division while the Wranglers drop to seventh place with 36 points. The Gulls have games in hand on every team in the standings.

The goal-scoring barrage was set in motion when Las Vegas' Chris Chartier and Deryk Engelland were sent to the penalty box, eventually giving the Gulls a five-on-three advantage. Canzanello took a pass from Mark Pederson at the high slot and fired it past the stick side of Las Vegas netminder Marc Magliarditi at 17:43 in the period for his third goal of the season, his first since returning from an injury.

With Engelland remaining in the box, Clark converted a five-on-four advantage just 47 seconds later, deflecting the puck just inside the left post for his eighth goal of the season at 18:34, snapping a 15-game scoreless streak. Canzanello chipped in with an assist, sliding a diagonal pass from the top of the right-wing circle.

Still stunned by the speedy deficit, the Wranglers overlooked Lynch, who, from the top of the right-wing circle, fired a slap-shot into the top shelf only 12 seconds later, ending his own 12-game scoreless streak.

But Las Vegas refused to stay down for the count and, midway through the second frame, nearly matched the Gulls' offensive outburst with two goals in 33 seconds. Adam Huxley earned his third goal of the season, managing to slide in a rebound past Chouinard at 14:51, despite falling to the ice. On the next possession, Darren Lynch, in the midst of a pile-up in front of the Gulls' net, scored his fourth goal of the season at 15:24.

With the Wranglers threatening, Shields nailed his third goal of the year at 12:24 in the final period to give the Gulls a little more breathing room. Max Birbraer nabbed the puck at center ice and dished a pass to Curtis Brown, whose shot was initially stopped by Magliarditi. Shields, at the right-post, was in perfect position to bang the puck home, ending a 10-game scoreless streak.

Jason Spence kept things tight with his seventh goal of the season at 16:42 but the Gulls' defense held for the remainder of the contest to seal the win.

Notes: The Gulls have been outscored 53-39 on the road this season. They are 6-8-2 overall on the road... San Diego has allowed 23 power-play goals in its last 16 games... Brown is in the midst of a six-game point streak, notching eight points in that span (2g, 6a)... 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 (bruised ribs), Guillaume Fournier (concussion-like symptoms) and Trevor Koenig (elbow tendonitis)... Nourislamov and O'Connor could be back Friday or Saturday... Nikita Korovkin returned to the lineup after missing the last six games with a bruised spleen...

San Diego plays in Long Beach Friday at 7:30 p.m. before coming home to face the Louisiana IceGators Saturday. It will be a 7:05 p.m. start and the first 6,000 fans in attendance will receive a special pair of Gulls boxer shorts, courtesy of Coast-to-Coast Tax Service. A portion from every terrace ticket purchased Saturday will be donated to the Asia Tsunami relief fund. The Gulls will also donate half of the proceeds from their "Chuck-a-Puck" sales, which take place on the North Concourse up until the second intermission. In addition, collection bins will be passed around the stands, starting in the first period. Another collection bin will also be stationed at the Gulls Information Booth, located on the North Concourse.

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.



ECHL Stories from January 14, 2005


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