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Gulls Rebound With 7-2 Win In Idaho

December 31, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


BOISE, Idaho - One night after suffering a tough one-goal loss to the Idaho Steelheads, the San Diego Gulls got their revenge in a major way. San Diego erupted for seven goals, three on the power play, and skated away 7-2 winners Friday night to even the three-game series.

Richard Keyes notched a pair of goals and added an assist, while Alex Kim chipped in with one goal and two helpers to lead the offensive attack for the Gulls (12-11-4), who broke their two-game losing streak. Four others finished with multipoint games, one of which included goaltender Tom Lawson, who recorded two assists.

Meanwhile, the Steelheads (19-8-2) had plenty of chances to stay within striking distance, but went 0-for-10 on the power play, one of which included a long two-man advantage.

For the third straight game on their road trip the Gulls drew first blood, as Keyes buried his eighth goal 8:51 into the first period. After grabbing Grady Moore's outlet pass, Keyes raced across the Idaho blue line and beat Matt Yeats high glove-side. San Diego goaltender Tom Lawson also earned an assist, his first of the night.

The Steelheads tied it at 16:12 of the first thanks to Marty Flichel's short-handed tally - his 12th goal overall. Flichel stole the puck from Moore inside the San Diego zone, skated in all alone, and roofed a shot over the out-stretched Lawson. It was the eighth short-handed goal the Gulls have allowed this season.

Pierre-Luc Sleigher and Kim traded goals in the second period, giving the Gulls a 3-1 advantage. Sleigher notched his sixth of the season at the 6:10 mark, picking up a loose puck behind the net before wrapping around and sliding it past Yeats. Kim earned the primary assist on the play, extending his point streak to eight games.

The red-hot Kim notched his second point of the night with a power-play goal at 10:15, knuckling a shot into the top left corner of the net. It was his 10th marker in 14 games with the Gulls and was assisted by Moore and Sleigher, both their second points of the night.

Idaho appeared to cut the deficit back to one late in the middle frame when Scott Burt beat Lawson on a delayed San Diego penalty. Burt, who was the extra attacker on the play, jumped on the ice to early however, and referee James Parker disallowed the goal.

San Diego tacked on two more power-play goals early in the third period, grabbing a commanding 5-1 cushion. Jesse Bennefield lit the lamp at 2:30, blasting home a slapper for his first tally of the night. Keyes garnered a helper and so did Lawson, the netminder's second of the game.

Keyes it the scoreboard again at 7:32 for his second goal of the game - ninth of the year - and third point of the night. Stationed at the left circle, Keyes took Kim's feed and one-timed it behind Yeats. It was Kim's second assist and third point of the game as well.

Idaho's Garret Bembridge recorded his league leading 24th goal at 13:40, but Bennefield answered and capped the night's scoring with his second of the game - 11th of the season - at 17:44.

Notes: The Gulls broke their four-game losing steak at Qwest Arena, with their last win coming during the 2003-04 season... San Diego is now 5-8-0 against West Division teams this season and eight of its next nine games are against West Division foes... Kim has 15 points during his eight-game point streak (6g, 9a). His career high point streak is 10 games, set in 2003-04... Tyler Weiman was re-assigned by Lowell Thursday... Guillaume Fournier, still suffering the affects from post-concussion syndrome, was re-placed on the injured list Wednesday...

San Diego concludes its three-game series in Idaho Saturday, with game-time again scheduled for 6:10 p.m. (PST). The Gulls open a four-game homestand Wednesday against the Alaska Aces at 7:05 p.m. It will be a Karl Strauss "Wet Down Wednesday" with discounts off Karl Strauss drafts. 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 (All upcoming games CAN BE VIEWED). Click the B2 Networks (Watch the Game Live) link on the home page for a list of the upcoming telecasted games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.zerodogentertainment.com.

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