Gulls Steal Win From Idaho, 2-1
January 7, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO - Pierre-Luc Sleigher's beautiful tic-tac-toe goal with 4:01 remaining in the third period capped a dramatic San Diego Gulls comeback, 2-1 over the visiting Idaho Steelheads on Friday night at the ipayOne Center.
The result gave San Diego (14-12-4) a pair of "firsts" this season. The Gulls, who fell behind 1-0 entering the final period, picked up their initial victory of 2006. Also, they had been winless in 10 games when trailing to start the third period, but they notched a pair of scores in the final frame to pull off the comeback. The Steelheads (19-10-1), meanwhile, had never lost in 17 previous matches when taking a lead into the last 20 minutes.
The Gulls pulled into a tie for second place in the Pacific Division with Long Beach, which lost Friday in a shootout to Bakersfield.
San Diego won its third straight against Idaho behind goalie Tyler Weiman. The Steelheads entered Friday's contest with the third-best offense in the league after scoring more than four goals per game. But Weiman stopped 31 shots, including numerous Idaho chances in the closing moments and from point-blank range.
Idaho keeper Steve Silverthorn matched Weiman shot for shot through two periods before San Diego got to the rookie in the third. Nikita Korovkin finally put the Gulls on the board at the 13:28 mark with a slap shot from the slot, assisted by Patrick Levesque and newcomer Kelly Askew, who signed earlier in the day with injury-plagued San Diego.
About two and a half minutes later, Sleigher capped the comeback with a beautiful play. Steve Hildenbrand brought the puck in, sent it to Alex Kim, who made a terrific pass to Sleigher. The forward finished by redirecting the puck into the net, but he promptly fell and rammed hard into the post. He immediately had to leave the game with a bruised back.
The Steelheads took an early lead just 3:37 into the match, with the goal coming from a familiar source. Idaho forward Garett Bembridge tallied an unassisted goal for his 26th of the season in 31 games - but that's all Weiman allowed to improve his record to 7-8-2 on the season.
Notes: Kim has 19 points during his career-high 11-game point streak (8g, 11a)... Jesse Bennefield has 18 points (9g, 9a) in the last 12 games... San Diego has killed 29 of 30 penalties against Idaho this season... Weiman has won five of his last six decisions and has stopped 185 of the last 194 shots (95.4 percent)... Cody McLeod was recalled by Lowell on Tuesday... David Svagrovsky (tear in finger), Guillaume Fournier (concussion), Martin Mandeville (concussion), Doug MacIver (sprained knee) and Andy Thompson (wrist surgery) remain on the injured list. Mandeville is expected to be activated Saturday... Darren Partch and Kelly Askew both signed Friday...
The Gulls continue their homestand Saturday against the Utah Grizzlies, with game-time scheduled for 7:05 p.m. It will be "Redneck Night," with the first 5,000 fans receiving a special Trucker Hat, courtesy of Casino Pauma. The Gulls will host the Alaska Aces on Sunday, which will mark another Kids Night with "Skate with the Gulls" immediately after the match.
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.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from January 7, 2006
- Aces win in Bako, 7-4 - Alaska Aces
- Ice Dogs Drop Another, Lose To Steelheads 4-1 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Wranglers silence Thunder 2-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Checkers lose two leads and game to Greenville 4-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- Gulls Rip Grizzlies, 6-2 - San Diego Gulls
- Falcons Cruise to Victory - Fresno Falcons
- Steelheads Keep Ice Dogs In Check, Win 4-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Ice Pilots Lose 6-3 At Florida - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Falcons clip Salmon fins - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Pittman's hat trick leads Titans to 5-2 win over Royals - Trenton Devils
- Gladiators win 7th Straight in 6-3 win against Columbia - Atlanta Gladiators
- Royals Win Streak Snapped In Trenton, 5-2 - Reading Royals
- Rays sting Lynx 6-3 - Augusta Lynx
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Wranglers' McKenna named Rookie of the Month - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Minard, Underhill take home ECHL Monthly awards - Alaska Aces
- Mike Kompon Loaned To Manchester - Reading Royals
- Schell called up to AHL Chicago - Atlanta Gladiators
- San Diego Looks For Fourth Win In The Last Five Games - San Diego Gulls
- Lynx announce time changes for remaining home games - Augusta Lynx
- Greenville Wins In Shootout 3-2 - South Carolina Stingrays
- Aces' Underhill Named RBC Financial Group ECHL Saver Of The Month - ECHL
- Wranglers' McKenna Named CCM Vector ECHL Rookie Of The Month - ECHL
- Aces' Minard Named CCM TACKS ECHL Player Of The Month - ECHL
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Munce Upon A Time: 63 Saves in Road Shootout Win - Bakersfield Condors
- Royals Pull Out Sixth Win In A Row By Beating Johnstown, 4-3 - Reading Royals
- Thunder and Utah battle in physical affair in 5-1 Stockton setback - Stockton Thunder
- Ice Dogs Fire 64 Shots, Fall To Condors 2-1 In Shootout - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Grizzlies Silence Thunder 5-1 - Utah Grizzlies
- Falcons splash Salmon Kings - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Gulls Steal Win From Idaho, 2-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Checkers can't hold back Lynx, lose at Aiugusta 7-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- Wranglers top Roadrunners, 3-1 - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Gulls Score Late to Shock Steelheads, 2-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Falcons Return to Winning Ways - Fresno Falcons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
