San Diego Looks To Win Rubber Game Of Weekend Series

December 5, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Gulls look to capture the rubber game of their weekend series with the Idaho Steelheads, as the two West Division rivals clash again at the Sports Arena.

SERIES HISTORY:
The Gulls and Steelheads have met twice so far this season with the series split at one game apiece. The two teams will clash five 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
12/4/04 Idaho 2 @ San Diego 5

San Diego owns the all-time series match-up, posting a 39-22-6 record against its West Division rival. The Gulls are 25-8-2 all-time against the Steelheads at the Sports Arena.

LAST HEAD-TO-HEAD MEETING (DEC. 4 VS. IDH):
The Gulls, who had trouble scoring goals Friday against Idaho, found their offense Saturday en route to a 5-2 victory over the defending Kelly Cup Champions. Sean O'Connor led the way for San Diego with two goals – both unassisted – and Trevor Koenig was his usual self in net, turning aside 32 of 34 shots. The Blue and Orange jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period and made it a three-goal game early in the third before the Steelheads could dent the scoreboard. The Gulls would tack on two more later in the third and that was all she wrote.

GULLS UPDATE:
The Gulls (7-6-2) enter the day sixth in the West Division with 16 points, 10 behind the first-place Bakersfield Condors... San Diego, however, has games in hand on everyone (minus Bakersfield) it's trailing in the standings (three on Idaho, five on Alaska and four each on Las Vegas and Long Beach)... The Gulls are 6-1-1 at home this season, but just 1-5-1 on the road... In their seven wins, the Blue and Orange have outscored their opponents 37-15. They've been outscored 26-9 in their eight losses (which includes an overtime and shootout loss)... The Gulls were 8-5-2 through 15 games last season... So far San Diego is 3-1-0 on its nine-game homestand...

OTHER NOTES:
Evgueni Nourislamov has six points (3g, 3a) in his last four games. He is tied for third among all ECHL defensemen with four goals overall... Darren Clark, who was scratched last night, leads the club with 13 points (5g, 8a) and a plus-minus rating of +5... The Gulls have killed 20 of their last 21 penalties, dating back to Nov. 17...

IDAHO UPDATE:
Idaho (11-6-1) begins the day tied for second in the West Division with the Alaska Aces, thee points behind Bakersfield... The Steelheads have two games in hand on the Aces, but have played three more games than the Condors... Rookie goaltender Frank Doyle, who was pulled in the third period last night, is tied for second in the ECHL with 10 wins. He ranks fifth in the league with a 1.82 goals-against average... Idaho has the top ranked penalty-killing unit in the league (90.3 percent)... Including tonight, the Steelheads play six of their next eight games on the road...

TRANSACTIONS:
Scott Borders was activated from injured reserve yesterday... 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:
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 5, 2004


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