Gulls Route Condors, 7-0

November 18, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO - It was an easy win for the San Diego Gulls Friday night. Richard Keyes had four points, Steve Hildenbrand had a three-point night and Tom Lawson stopped all 32 shots, as San Diego pounded the Bakersfield Condors 7-0 Friday night, before 4,637 the ipayOne Center. The Gulls have now won three straight and are unbeaten in their last six games (4-0-2).

Keyes had two goals and two assists, while Hildenbrand chipped in with one goal and two helpers, as the Gulls had their biggest offensive outburst of the season. San Diego (5-5-2) jumps into sole possession of second place in the Pacific Division, while Bakersfield (3-5-3) remains fourth.

Hildenbrand gave the Gulls a 1-0 lead with a short-handed tally 16:39 into the first period. Keyes made the play happen, stealing the puck inside his own blue line before barreling all the way into the Condors end. Keyes eventually shook off a Bakersfield defender and slipped a pass to a wide-open Hildenbrand, who banged it by Ryan Cyr for his club-leading sixth goal.

San Diego netted a power-play marker at the 18:41 mark of the opening stanza, making it a 2-0 game. It was another goal setup by the "French Fries," as Martin Mandeville notched his fourth of the season. Grady Moore, standing at the left point, grabbed a pass from Guillaume Fournier and threaded another feed toward the crease, where Mandeville easily tapped it home.

Keyes and Hildenbrand connected again 1:25 into the second period, giving the Gulls a three-goal lead. Hildenbrand, deep inside his own zone, found Keyes lurking at center ice and the San Diego veteran centerman was off to the races, eventually beating Cyr on the backhand.

The Gulls made it 5-0, thanks to goals by Matt Kunsman and Jason Courtemanche, who were both signed earlier in the day to fill in for San Diego's injured and called-up players. Kunsman got his goal (the first of his pro career) at 6:02 of the second, picking off a Condors pass and wristing a shot by Cyr, who was then replaced by Ryan Munce. Courtemanche tallied at the 8:18 mark, holding puck inside the Bakersfield zone before slapping it past Munce.

San Diego netted its fourth goal of the middle frame at 13:17, capitalizing on a long two-man advantage. Keyes was the beneficiary once again, burying a shot from the left circle for his second goal of the game - fourth of the season. Darren Clark earned the primary assist and Hildenbrand picked up the second helper, which was his third point of the night.

Cody McLeod capped the scoring with another Gulls power-play goal, 9:54 into the third. Clark notched his second assist on the play and so did Keyes, giving him a four-point game.

Meanwhile Lawson, overshadowed with all the offense, was perfect between the pipes. The San Diego netminder, making his fourth straight start, turned aside all 32 shots, upping his record to 4-0-1. It was his 14th career shutout.

Notes: Fournier is now riding a career-high six-game point streak (3g, 6a)... Mandeville is in the midst of a five-game point streak (3g, 2a)... The "French Fries" line of Fournier, Pierre-Luc Sleigher and Mandeville has combined for 19 points (8g, 11a) in the last six games... Chet Ferreira, who left Thursday's game with a knee injury, was placed on the seven-day injured list Friday... Jesse Bennefield (shoulder) is also on the seven-day injured reserve... Frantisek Skladany and Tomas Slovak both remain with the American Hockey League's Lowell Lock Monsters...

The Gulls go right back on the road Saturday to take on the Pacific Division leading Fresno Falcons at 7 p.m. San Diego opens its longest homestand of the season (seven games) Wednesday against the Victoria Salmon Kings. The game is slated to begin at 7:05 p.m. and will feature a Thanksgiving Food Drive, presented by the San Diego Food Bank. Any fan who donates a non-perishable food item will receive a 2-for-1 voucher, good for the Gulls game on either Friday, Nov. 25 or Sunday, Nov. 27.

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.



ECHL Stories from November 18, 2005


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