Gulls Take 2-1 Series Lead With 3-0 Shutout
April 16, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO -- The playoffs are a time for big time players to play like stars. The Gulls got huge contributions from their leaders Tuesday night as they shutout the Bakersfield Condors in convincing fashion 3-0 before 2,743 fans at the San Diego Sports Arena.
Gulls leading regular season scorer Mark Pederson started the scoring with a blast from the right point to beat Bakersfield goalie Kevin St. Pierre 7:29 into the game. The opening goal, Pederson's first of the playoffs, came on the power play and was assisted by Kevin Grant and Cory Cyrenne.
Pederson's goal would stand up through the end of the first period as Trevor Koenig stood on his head to make nine early saves.
Midway through the second period, Dennis Purdie found the back of the Bakersfield net off a rebound from a Pederson shot on a two-on-one break. Pederson picked up the assist, his third of the playoffs, along with Grant. Grant's assist was his second of the game and fourth of the playoffs.
The Condors only managed six second-period shots against Koenig, but he was up to the task, stopping them all.
The Gulls, for all intents and purposes, put the game away in the first minute of the third period when Clayton Read scored on a breakaway with assists from Miguel Delisle and Dean Tiltgen. All players involved in the play picked up their first points of the playoffs.
The game got ugly in the middle of the third period, with entire lines from both squads being sent to the penalty box after a melee to the side of the San Diego net. The bruhaha continued on the way to the penalty box and four players from each team received two-minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and one player from each side received a double minor. In all, the third period featured 22 penalties for a total of 50 penalty minutes between the two teams.
For the game, Koenig stopped 22 shots in as many chances for his third career postseason shutout. St. Pierre stopped 25 San Diego shots, but couldn't match Koenig's perfect night.
Notes: The Gulls are 16-4 all-time against the Condors in the postseason, beating them in their previous five series... San Diego has never been eliminated in the first round... Sylvain Deschatelets leads the league with three goals... Koenig has stopped 87 of 90 shots in the first two games; good enough for a .967 save percentage... St. Pierre has stopped 81 of 87 shots: a .931 save percentage...
Game 4 of the Taylor Cup Semifinals is Wednesday at the Sports Arena, starting at 7 p.m. The Gulls will also host Game 5, which is slated for Friday at 7:30 p.m. If necessary, Game 6 is in Bakersfield on Easter Sunday while Game 7 would be back in San Diego Tuesday, April 22. All games can be heard live on AM1130-KSDO with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. You can listen to the Gulls Internet Radio Show's archives anytime on wsradio.com, with Tera Black and Jeremy Zager hosting.
ECHL Stories from April 16, 2003
- Gulls Win 5-2, Lead series 3-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Gulls Win Third Straight, 5-2 - Bakersfield Condors
- Focus Turns to Critical Game Four - Greensboro Generals
- Elmira Can't Get A Bounce In 3-1 Loss - Elmira Jackals
- Cyclones Take out Toledo, 4-1 - Cincinnati Cyclones
- ECHL Alumni Fill AHL Rosters - ECHL
- Steelheads Gear Up for Game Three in Fresno - Idaho Steelheads
- Grizzlies Announce New Ticket Pricing For 2003-04 Season - Utah Grizzlies
- Green Jerseys Raise $12,600 For Charity - Florida Everblades
- All Along The Coast - ECHL
- Gulls Take 2-1 Series Lead With 3-0 Shutout - San Diego Gulls
- Gulls shut down Condors - Bakersfield Condors
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