Gulls Notch Third Straight Win, Beat Stockton 5-2

February 26, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - It was the third game in less than 48 hours for the road-weary San Diego Gulls, who played in Phoenix Friday and back home Saturday. But it was the Stockton Thunder who looked like the tired team, as the Gulls stormed to a 5-2 victory Sunday in the first-ever match-up at the Stockton Arena.

Stockton (8-32-11), which was playing its second home game in as many nights, is now winless in its last 14 games (0-10-4). Meanwhile, San Diego (23-23-5) has all of a sudden tied a season high with its third straight win and creeps within two points of the idle Bakersfield Condors for third place in the Pacific Division.

The Gulls line of Steve Hildenbrand, Mark Wires and Jesse Bennefield was the story, as the trio combined for four goals and 10 points - all coming in the second period. Tyler Weiman, who was re-assigned from Lowell of the American Hockey League Sunday, stopped 33 shots en route to his 10th ECHL win this season.

R.J. Enga, playing in his second game this season and second since the 2002-03 season, gave the Gulls a 1-0 lead with a power-play marker 1:24 into the game. Enga, standing in the left circle, took a nice pass from Grady Moore and one-timed it past Stockton netminder Jeff Weber.

The Thunder's Aaron MacInnis tied it at 3:53, beating Weiman with a blue line slap shot. But Hildenbrand, Wires and Bennefield connected three times in the second period to give the Gulls a 4-1 lead.

Hildenbrand, who notched the OT winner Saturday vs. Utah, got his 21st goal 3:16 into the middle frame, banging in a shot at the right post. Wires then dented the scoreboard at 6:14, converting on Hildenbrand's rebound. Hildenbrand came calling again with his 22nd marker at the 17:14 mark when his centering feed to Wires redirected into the net off a Stockton defenseman. Lost in the shuffle was Bennefield, who assisted on all three goals.

Joel Irwin scored on a two-on-one rush with Ned Havern at 12:13 of the third period, but San Diego put the game away 34 seconds later when Bennefield netted his 23rd goal of the season. It was also his fourth point of the game, tying a season and career high.

Notes: The Gulls didn't arrive in Stockton until 7 a.m. for their 4 p.m. contest against the Thunder Sunday. It was their third game in three different cities this weekend (Friday - Phoenix, Saturday - San Diego, Sunday - Stockton)... San Diego has killed 90 of 99 penalties in the last 16 games (90.9 percent), including all four Sunday... Bennefield has 13 points (4g, 9a) in his last eight games... Hildenbrand has 12 points (6g, 6a) in the last eight games... Wires has six points (3g, 3a) in the last four games... San Diego has scored power-play goals in five of its last six games... Nine of its last 13 games have been decided by one goal... The Gulls are in a stretch of eight games in 11 days, including three matches in as many nights this weekend... Dennis Shiryaev was acquired from Bakersfield Sunday... Taj Melson and Chad Wagner, who filled in for three games this week, were both released Sunday...

The Gulls play in Stockton again Tuesday at 7 p.m. before opening a four-game homestand Wednesday against the Long Beach Ice Dogs at 7:05 p.m. San Diego will then host the Las Vegas Wranglers Friday at 7:35 p.m. and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Friday is Military Appreciation Night with a sleeveless T-shirt giveaway. Saturday is Disco Night and special "Fro" wings will be handed out.

All games can be heard on KLSD 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. Most games can also be viewed on the Gulls' web site, courtesy of B2 Networks. Click the B2 Networks (Watch the Game Live) link on the home page for a list of the upcoming viewable games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.zerodogentertainment.com.



ECHL Stories from February 26, 2006


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