San Diego Looks for 12th Straight Win Over Long Beach
April 2, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The San Diego Gulls can all but assure themselves of finishing in second place if they can beat the Ice Dogs tonight at the Long Beach Arena. The Gulls have beaten their So. Cal Rival 11 straight times.
Right now the Gulls and Bakersfield Condors are tied for the second seed with 89 points apiece. But after the Condors' 7-5 loss to the Fresno Falcons last night, they only have two games remaining - both against the first-place Idaho Steelheads. Including tonight, San Diego has four games left, two against Long Beach and two against the Anchorage Aces.
The Gulls also have two more wins than Bakersfield, the tiebreaker if the two teams end the regular season tied in points. Putting all the statistical mumbo-jumbo aside, all San Diego needs to clinch second place is win two of its four remaining games.
San Diego has dominated the season series, going 13-1-0 against Long Beach. The Ice Dogs only win against the Blue and Orange came on their home opener (Oct. 26). The Gulls have outscored Long Beach 56-22 this season and 43-15 during the last 11 games. San Diego has also posted three shutouts against the Dogs in 2002-03.
Long Beach has won two straight to creep out of the cellar in the West Coast Hockey League, but is winless in 21 of its last 27 overall. The Ice Dogs are last in the league in goals scored and fifth in goals allowed.
A big part of their struggles has been special teams. Long Beach comes in with the league's worst power play (10.2 percent), and the second worst penalty killing (78.2 percent). The Dogs are 6 for 69 with the man advantage against the Gulls (8.7 percent).
San Diego still needs to keep a close eye on Jamie O'Leary, Mike Barrie and Chris Peyton. O'Leary leads the club in goals, assists and points (19g, 39a = 58p), while Barrie has netted 16 points in 15 games since joining Long Beach. Peyton is one of league's best offensive blue liners, ranking third with 41 points and 33 assists.
The Gulls and Ice Dogs will meet Sunday to close out the regular season. San Diego controls the all-time series match-up with a 25-10-1 record.
All games can be heard live on AM1130-KSDO, with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The Gulls' Internet radio show broadcasts live every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on wsradio.com with Tera Black and Jeremy Zager hosting.
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