Gulls jump into second place

December 27, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO –– The points keep adding up for the San Diego Gulls, who are now in sole possession of second place in the West Division and only four points out of first. After starting the week with a loss in Victoria, the Blue and Orange rebounded with a big win in Las Vegas.

The Gulls ended their three-game series against the Salmon Kings Monday with a one-goal loss, but they were still able to take two of three North of the Borders. After not being able to practice over the Christmas Break, San Diego returned to action Sunday with a shutout victory against the Wranglers.

WEEK IN REVIEW:

Dec. 20 @ Victoria: Former Gull Rob Voltera scored twice, leading the Salmon Kings to a 3-2 victory and helping them salvage the final contest of the three-game series. Victoria grabbed a 1-0 lead midway through the first period before San Diego's Sean O'Connor tied it minutes later with a breakaway tally. Voltera regained the Salmon Kings lead later in the first and notched his second of the night early in the second period. Mike Garrow pulled the Gulls within one late in the third period, but it was too little to late.

Dec. 26 @ Las Vegas: Brian Gornick scored the game's lone goal and Mathieu Chouinard was perfect in net, leading San Diego to a tight 1-0 victory over the Wranglers. After a scoreless first period, Gornick put one past Vegas netminder Sebastien Centomo on a Gulls power play early in the second. That's how the game stayed as Chouinard, who finished with 30 saves, and company held the fort.

PLAYER NOTES: Garrow had his five-game point streak snapped Sunday in Las Vegas. He had seven points (3g, 4a) during that span... Gornick has three goals in the last four games... Chouinard was returned by the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks last week... Evgueni Nourislamov was re-assigned by the AHL's Syracuse Crunch... Jonathon Shockey was placed on the 30-day injured list Dec. 19 with a shoulder injury... Mark Pederson, suffering from back spasms, is expected back in the lineup Wednesday in Alaska... Sean Murphy returned to action Sunday after missing the last month with a fractured knuckle...

TEAM NOTES: San Diego is 10-3-0 in its last 13 games, outscoring its opponents 47-32 during that span... The Gulls are now 4-6-1 on the road and 10-2-1 at home... The Blue and Orange average 4.43 goals a game when they win, but just 1.5 goals a game when they lose... Before Sunday's game, San Diego had allowed 12 power-play goals in its previous seven games... The Gulls are just two points behind last season's pace. They wound up with a franchise record 108 points in 2003-04...

The Gulls conclude their road trip with a pair of games, Wednesday and Friday, against the Aces, with both starting at 8:15 PST. San Diego then comes home to face the Bakersfield Condors Sunday, Jan. 2 at 5:05 p.m. It will be another "Kids Night" featuring "Skate with the Gulls" immediately follow the game. ALL THREE UPCOMING GAMES WILL BE TELEVISED LIVE ON THE GULLS' WEB SITE, VIA B2 NETWORKS.

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 December 27, 2004


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