San Diego Looks To Get Back On Winning Track

December 4, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Gulls look to get back on the winning track and continue their hot play at home as they again host the Idaho Steelheads. The two West Division rivals will also square off Sunday at the Sports Arena.

SERIES HISTORY:
The Gulls and Steelheads have met once so far this season with Idaho holding a 1-0-0 series edge. The two teams will clash six more times in the regular season. San Diego was 8-1-1 against Idaho last season, including a 5-0-0 mark at home.

2004-05 HEAD-TO-HEAD SERIES:
12/3/04 Idaho 3 @ San Diego 1

San Diego owns the all-time series match-up, posting a 38-22-6 record against its West Division rival. The Gulls are 24-8-2 all-time against the Steelheads at the Sports Arena.

LAST HEAD-TO-HEAD MEETING (DEC. 3 VS. IDH): It was a close game all the way, but Frank Luke's goal four minutes into the third period gave the Steelheads a lead they wouldn't relinquish as they went on to defeat the Gulls 3-1. San Diego opened a 1-0 lead 16:43 into the first period on Max Birbraer's power-play goal. Warren Peters knotted the contest 4:41 into the second and that's how the game stayed until Luke's deciding tally at the 4:11 mark of the third. Brett Draney sealed the game with an empty-netter.

GULLS UPDATE:
The Gulls (6-6-2) enter the day sixth in the West Division with 14 points, 12 behind the first-place Bakersfield Condors... San Diego, however, has played the fewest games in the division (along with the Victoria Salmon Kings)... The Gulls are 5-1-1 at home this season, but just 1-5-1 on the road... In their six wins, the Blue and Orange have outscored their opponents 32-13. They've been outscored 26-9 in their eight losses (which includes an overtime and shootout loss)... The Gulls were 8-4-2 through 14 games last season... Tonight is the fourth of a season-high nine-game homestand...

OTHER NOTES:
Darren Clark, who was named the Gulls' Player of the Month for November, leads the club with 13 points (5g, 8a)... Evgueni Nourislamov has five points in his last three games (2g, 3a)... Rookie Guillaume Fournier has five points (2g, 3a) in his last four games... The Gulls have out-shot their opponents 149-91 in the last four games...

IDAHO UPDATE:
Idaho (11-5-1) begins the day second in the West Division with 23 points, three behind Bakersfield... The Steelheads broke a two-game winless steak with last night's win... Rookie goaltender Frank Doyle is tied for first in the ECHL with 10 wins. He ranks fourth in the league with a 1.55 goals-against average... Idaho has the top ranked penalty-killing unit in the league (89.7 percent)... Including tonight, the Steelheads play seven of their next nine games on the road...

TRANSACTIONS:
Scott Borders was activated from injured reserve today... Sean O'Connor was returned from the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks on Tuesday... Sean Murphy, suffering from a fractured knuckle, was transferred to the 30-day injured list, retroactive to Nov. 27...

FUTURE HEAD-TO-HEAD MEETINGS:
Sunday, Dec. 5 vs. Idaho (5:05 p.m. PST)
Friday, Feb. 25 vs. Idaho (7:05 p.m. PST)
Sunday, Feb. 27 vs. Idaho (5:05 p.m. PST)
Wednesday, Mar. 30 @ Idaho (6:05 p.m. PST)
Friday, Apr. 1 @ Idaho (6:05 p.m. PST)
Saturday, Apr. 2 @ Idaho (6:05 p.m. PST)



ECHL Stories from December 4, 2004


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