Gulls Squeeze Past Steelheads, 3-2
February 27, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO â The San Diego Gulls took only a quarter of the game's shots but recorded nearly all of the offense with three goals in the first two periods to earn a 3-2 triumph over the Idaho Steelheads Sunday night at the Sports Arena.
San Diego's offensive output was nearly nonexistent in the last two periods, tallying only six shots over a 40-minute span and being out-shot 49-16 in the contest. Yet the Gulls managed to sink the Steelheads with early goals from Nikita Korovkin, Sean O' Connor and Max Birbraer. San Diego goaltender Eddy Ferhi was a workhorse between the pipes, making 47 stops. With the victory, the Gulls (28-20-6) increase their fifth-place margin over the Steelheads (28-21-3) to three points.
Korovkin turned the Gulls' third shot of the game into an early advantage with a power-play goal at 7:36 in the opening frame. After Idaho's Billy Tibbetts was called for interference, Korovkin recovered his own rebound at the left post and slid the puck past Idaho netminder Frank Doyle for his seventh goal of the season.
San Diego wasted no time getting back on the board, doubling its lead just over a minute later with O' Connor's team-leading 17th goal of the year at 8:40. Taking a pass from Brian Gornick at the right wing, O' Connor beat Doyle with a shot that squeezed inside the left post.
The Gulls recorded the only goal of the second period, despite being outshot 22-3, when Birbraer scored on a one-on-one opportunity at 17:13. From deep in his own zone, O' Connor whipped a pass down the boards to Birbraer at the Idaho right-wing circle. With a step on the nearest defender, Birbraer skated across the slot and sent his shot over Doyle's outstretched leg near the left post for his 15th goal of the season.
Jonathan Zion rescued the Steelheads from being skunked with his power-play goal at 6:23 in the third. With Sean Murphy sitting in the box for tripping, Zion laced the puck from the left wing into the right post, earning his fifth goal of the year.
Idaho made it a one-goal game late in the third when Darrell Hay notched his sixth goal of the season at 16:23, but the Gulls' defense shored up to hold on to the victory.
Notes: San Diego is 21-3-1 when scoring four-plus goals in a game, but just 7-17-5 when scoring three or less... The Gulls are 7-9-2 in their last 18 games and have only out-shot their opponent three times since the all-star break... They are 18-5-3 at home and 10-15-3 on the road... Mike Garrow (concussion), Grady Moore (concussion) and Evgueni Nourislamov (broken thumb) remain out of the lineup... Andrew Canzanello remains with the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks...
The Gulls go back on the road for a brief two-game trip Wednesday in Bakersfield and Friday in Fresno. Both games begin at 7 p.m. San Diego returns home Saturday against the Falcons, with game-time set for 7:05 p.m. It will be Disco Night and the first 6,000 fans in attendance will receive a special Gulls disco wig.
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 most remaining 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.
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