Long Beach Edges Gulls, 3-2
March 11, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Christian Larrivee's short-handed goal with 7:10 left in regulation broke a 2-2 tie and gave the Long Beach Ice Dogs a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Gulls Saturday night, before 4,077 at the Long Beach Arena.
The Gulls (27-26-5) trailed 2-0 after the first period, but scrapped their way back in the second to tie the score. San Diego had a chance to take its first lead in the game with a late third-period power play, but instead Larrivee's tally turned the tables in favor of Long Beach (31-19-8)
Michael Lambert gave the Ice Dogs an early 2-0 lead with a pair of goals in the first period. His first came at the 6:13 mark when he beat Tyler Weiman top-shelf on a slap shot from the right circle. Lambert's second - seventh in nine games with Long Beach - came at 7:54 when he got behind the San Diego defense and slipped a backhander behind an out-stretched Weiman.
Newcomer J.F. Soucy, who was acquired from Phoenix Thursday, put the Gulls on the board 7:09 into the second period, converting a two-on-one with Bobby Cunningham, playing in his third game with San Diego since being acquired from Pensacola Tuesday. After getting a nice centering pass in the neutral zone from Rob Flynn, Cunningham darted into the Long Beach zone and fed an open Soucy, who punched it past rookie netminder Zach Sikich.
Gulls leading goal-scorer Jesse Bennefield tied it at the 12:28 mark of the second, beating Sikich on a breakaway. Mark Wires had the puck inside the San Diego blue line and laced a pass to a streaking Bennefield, who earned his team-leading 28th goal.
Long Beach had plenty of chances to regain its lead in the middle frame, out-shooting the Gulls 13-4. Weiman, however, made key save after key save, keeping it a 2-2 game heading into the third.
Weiman couldn't stop Larrivee's short-hander however, which came at the 12:50 mark of the third period. Mike Woodford's original shot from the right circle was stopped, but Larrivee pounced on the rebound and buried it for his 22nd marker of the season.
Notes: San Diego hasn't allowed a power play goal in four straight games and has now killed 123 of 135 in its last 24 games overall (91.1 percent)... The Gulls are 3-4-0 against Long Beach this season with two more head-to-head meetings... San Diego averages 3.45 goals per game at home, but only 2.52 goals per game on the road... The Gulls need six more points to clinch a playoff spot... Kelly Askew returned to the lineup after missing the last 21 games with a broken ankle... Sebastien Fortier was activated from the seven-day injured list after missing the last three games with a concussion...
The Gulls return home Sunday against Fresno, with game-time set for 5:05 p.m. It will be another Kids Night, and "Skate with the Gulls' will be held immediately following the game. The first 2,000 kids (12-and-under) in attendance also will receive a Gulls lunch box, courtesy of Chili's and SeaWorld. 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. Click the B2 Networks (Watch the Game Live) link on the home page for a list of the upcoming viewable games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.zerodogentertainment.com.
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ECHL Stories from March 11, 2006
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