Gulls Hold Off Victoria In A Shootout, 4-3
March 18, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
VICTORIA, British Columbia - Third time's a charm. The San Diego Gulls needed a shootout, but they finally came away with a victory over the Victoria Salmon Kings, 4-3 Saturday night at the Save-On-Food Memorial Centre.
San Diego (29-27-6) got goals in the shootout from Pierre-Luc Sleigher, Steve Hildenbrand and the winner from Bobby Cunningham. Former Gull Jade Galbraith and Lanny Gare scored for the Salmon Kings (21-34-8), but Seth Leonard missed high on a shot in the fifth round to clinch it for the Gulls.
San Diego took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission and upped its edge to 3-1 only 85 seconds into the final period. During a 4-on-4 situation, Sleigher notched his second goal of the night and 19th of the year to give the Gulls a seemingly comfortable 3-1 advantage. The forward finished with three points (2g, 1a), in addition to the shootout tally.
But Victoria didn't go away. Ryan Wade and Seth Leonard scored only 37 seconds apart to pull the Salmon Kings even at 3-3 with 4:33 left and to force overtime.
In the final match-up of the season between the two clubs, Mike Mole made 24 saves to pick up his first win in three matches with San Diego since coming over in a trade with Phoenix on Tuesday. The Gulls finished the year with a 2-2-1 mark versus Victoria. San Diego had dropped its two previous games earlier in the week against the Salmon Kings - by a 4-3 mark in overtime Wednesday and 3-1 result Friday - after holding early leads in both contests.
Despite the victory, however, the Gulls remain in fourth place in the Pacific Division, five points behind Bakersfield, which beat Phoenix 4-1 Saturday night. San Diego has already clinched a post-season berth, while Victoria entered Saturday's match 21 points out of the final playoff spot in the West Division.
For the third straight contest against the Salmon Kings, the Gulls got on the scoreboard first. This time, Sleigher rifled the puck past Victoria keeper Rob McVicar only 2:57 into the match. The forward's goal came on San Diego's initial shot of the night.
Chris Cava gave the Gulls a two-goal lead via the power play at the 12:58 mark of the opening frame. It was the defenseman's first score with San Diego in 11 games and sixth overall for the year. The Gulls finished the opening period with the two tallies on only four shots.
Victoria, however, cut the deficit to 2-1 with less than a minute left in the first on a power-play goal by Nate Forster. Neither club found the back of the net in the second.
Now, the Gulls return to San Diego and will get a few days off before returning to action at 7 p.m. Friday at home against Long Beach.
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