San Diego Drops To Third Place; Win Streak Snapped At Three

November 7, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – Trevor Koenig continued his stellar play for the San Diego Gulls, but it wasn't enough as the Bakersfield Condors remained perfect on the season with a 4-1 victory Saturday night at Centennial Garden.

Koenig, coming off a 44 save performance Thursday against the Florida Everblades, was up to his old tricks Saturday night, turning aside another 37 shots. Unfortunately for Koenig and the rest of the Gulls, the Condors had a few more tricks up their sleeves.

First was rookie goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji, drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in last summer's NHL Entry Draft. Fukufuji wasn't tested as much as Koenig, but was just as effective, stopping 26 shots. Second was the Bakersfield offense, which far out-chanced San Diego (4-3-1).

Put that together and it's another victory for the Condors (5-0-0), who move back into a first place tie with the Idaho Steelheads. The loss snaps the Gulls' three-game win streak and moves them into third place in the West Division, one point behind Bakersfield and Idaho. It also breaks San Diego's eight-game win streak over the Condors.

The Gulls came out flying, registering the first seven shots of the game. They registered the first goal too, as Mark Pederson got San Diego on the board 3:38 into the first period. The play was set-up by team leading scorer Darren Clark, who extended his point streak to a league-high seven games. Pederson took Clark's feed at the bottom of the left wing circle and one-timed it past Fukufuji.

Bakersfield, however, answered with two squib goals later in the first to take a 2-1 lead. Condor veteran Paul Rosebush scored on Bakersfield's first shot of the game at 8:12, thanks to a little help from San Diego defenseman Ian Forbes. Rosebush busted down the wing on a two-on-one and unleashed a shot that Koenig saved. Forbes, trying to break-up the out-numbered attack, bumped into Koenig after Rosebush's shot and the puck dribbled over the goal line.

Todd Alexander gave Bakersfield a one-goal advantage at 11:27, prying the puck from underneath Koenig's pads and jamming it home. Koenig again stopped the original shot, but Alexander followed up his own rebound and found the loose puck.

It looked as if the Condors scored again late in the first as Connor James, the reigning ECHL Rookie of the Month, lit the lamp at 17:18. The goal didn't count, however, because a fight between Jonathon Shockey and former Gull Ashlee Langdone ensued moments before the puck went into the net.

The Condors continued to get chances in the second period, but Koenig wouldn't let them extend their lead. San Diego, out-shot 15-6 in the middle frame, couldn't take advantage of Koenig's hot goaltending and the game remained 2-1 heading into the third.

Bakersfield kept the attack going and was rewarded 3:47 into the third, as Vlad Serov made it a 3-1 game. Veteran defenseman Guy Dupuis grabbed a pass at the blue line from David Kudelka and rocketed a shot that Serov redirected past Koenig.

Dennis Shiryaev put the game away with a penalty shot goal late in the third period, shoving a back-hander just underneath Koenig. Shiryaev was awarded the penalty shot after Andrew Canzanello hooked him down on a breakaway attempt.

Notes: Shiryaev's penalty shot was only the second all-time against the Gulls. The last came in 1998 and was unsuccessful... Clark has 11 points (4g, 7a) during his point streak... He entered the day third among ECHL point leaders... The Gulls have killed 32 of their last 35 penalties... Billy Tibbetts missed the game with flu-like symptoms and a sore back... Colin Shields, who sat out the first seven games of the season awaiting the completion of his immigration paperwork, finally made his Gulls debut Saturday... Mathieu Chouinard (hip) and Sylvain Deschatelets (wrist) both remain on the injured list... Sean O'Connor remains with the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks... The Gulls will now have a week off before playing in Bakersfield again Saturday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. San Diego returns home to face the Condors Wednesday, Nov. 17. It will be the second "Wacky Wednesday" of the season and the first "Pooch Party." THAT MEANS ALL FANS IN ATTENDANCE ARE INVITED TO BRING THEIR DOG TO THE GAME!

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 November 7, 2004


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