Gulls win another three-game series

December 13, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO –– Put another three-game series win in the books for the San Diego Gulls. After taking two of three from the defending Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads a couple weekends ago, the Gulls did the same to the Alaska Aces last week and continue to creep up the West Division standings.

The Blue and Orange are still sixth in the West, but they're catching up to everyone ahead of them in standings. The Gulls are now seven points out of first place and remain five points out of second place. But they're now only three points out of third place. And a win on Wednesday can potentially move the Blue and Orange into a fourth place tie, depending on some out-of-town games on Tuesday.

WEEK IN REVIEW:

Dec. 9 vs. Alaska: The Gulls continued their hot play at home with a 5-2 win against the Aces, the club's 500th victory in franchise history (which includes the playoffs). Mark Pederson and Guillaume Fournier led the way, each recording a goal and an assist. NHL veteran Curtis Brown scored his first goal in a San Diego uniform and Trevor Koenig was steady in net, turning aside 22 of 24 shots. The Gulls opened a 2-0 lead before Alaska got on the board. San Diego quickly responded with three answered goals and cruised the rest of the way.

Dec. 11 vs. Alaska: San Diego carried a three-goal lead heading into the third period, but the Aces scored four times in the final frame to stun the Gulls with a 5-4 come-from-behind win. Chris Minard and Kimbi Daniels scored early in the third to start Alaska's comeback. Charles Linglet and B.J. Young, who scored twice in the game, tallied 16 seconds apart later in the stanza and that was all she wrote. The loss spoiled career nights by San Diego's Sean O'Connor and Max Birbraer. O'Connor netted his first career hat trick and added an assist, while Birbraer chipped in with a career-high three helpers.

Dec. 12 vs. Alaska: O'Connor lit the lamp with 1:13 left in regulation breaking a 3-3 tie and lifting the Gulls to a hard-fought one-goal victory over the Aces, clinching the three-game series. Alaska scored 28 seconds into the first period but San Diego responded with three straight markers to go ahead 3-1. The Aces, as they did the previous night, came roaring back and tied the game seven minutes into the third. It looked like overtime was looming on the horizon, but O'Connor put the Gulls ahead for good, redirecting out of mid-air Mike Garrow's shot from the left circle.

PLAYER NOTES: Birbraer is in the midst of a six-game point streak, notching 13 points (6g, 7a) during that span. He has seven points (2g, 5a) in his last two games... O'Connor has a five-game point streak, recording 11 points (7g, 4a) during that span... Mathieu Chouinard was loaned to the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and posted a shutout Saturday... In return, Cincinnati assigned goaltender Eddy Ferhi... Sean Murphy remains on the injured list with a fractured knuckle...

TEAM NOTES: The Gulls are 6-2-0 on their season-long nine-game homestand... They are 9-2-1 overall on home ice and 1-5-1 on the road... San Diego has outscored its opponents 50-22 in its 10 wins, but has been outscored 31-13 in its nine losses (which includes an overtime and shootout loss)... The Gulls were also 10-7-2 through 19 games last season... San Diego won its 500th game in franchise history Thursday against the Aces. That includes both regular season and playoff totals...

The Gulls conclude their homestand Wednesday against the Long Beach Ice Dogs, with game-time set for 7:05 p.m. It will be the third "Wacky Wednesday" of the season, featuring "Santas Gone Wild." San Diego then embarks on a six-game road trip, which starts with a three-game series against the Victoria Salmon Kings. The Gulls and Salmon Kings meet Friday, Saturday and Monday, Dec. 20 at the Bear Mountain Arena, with all games beginning at 7 p.m.

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 many 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.



ECHL Stories from December 13, 2004


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