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Showdown Ends In A Draw

February 16, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies News Release


ATLANTIC CITY - WEEK RECORD: 1-1-1 - SEASON RECORD: 33-12-4 - 2nd NORTHERN

BULLIES REWIND: The Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies took three out of a possible six points and split a crucial two-game set with the Wheeling Nailers at Boardwalk Hall to remain two points out of the top spot in the Northern Division.

Thursday, Matt Elitch tallied the game-winning goal 1:49 seconds into overtime as the Greensboro Generals defeated the Bullies in a thriller 6-5 before 2518 at the Greensboro Coliseum. Pierre-Luc Sleigher opened the scoring for the Bullies collecting his own rebound and tucking it behind Generals goalie Jamie Hodson at 4:12 of the first period for a 1-0 lead. Sam Paolini would make it 2-0 exactly four minutes later at 8:12 when the puck deflected to him in front of the net, and on his backhand stuffed it behind Hodson along the near post. Greensboro would crack the scoreboard early in the second when Eric Fortier slipped the puck through the pads of Bullies goaltender Jake Moreland at 2:49 to cut the deficit to 2-1. Luke Curtin would give the Bullies their 2-goal advantage back when left unattended in the slot, he took a feed from Scott Horvath and tipped the puck by Hodson at 9:07 for a 3-1 lead. The Generals would counter with a pair of goals to close the period. First Geno Parrish on the power play fired a slap shot by Moreland from the left point at 12:57 to cut the Bullies lead to 3-2. Fortier netted the equalizer with his second tally of the game at 19:34 sending the teams to the second intermission tied 3-3. Greensboro would continue their onslaught in the third period with a pair of goals by Mike Bayrack 1:29 apart at 11:00 and 12:29 respectively to give the Generals a 5-3 advantage. Stefan Rivard off a turnover by Kevin Grimes brought the Bullies back to within one 8 seconds later at 12:37when he broke in alone on Hodson and tucked the puck underneath the crossbar to cut the lead to 5-4. Then with Moreland pulled and on the power play, Josh Prudden tallied the equalizer at 19:42 with a slap shot from the right-wing circle to tie the game 5-5 and send the contest to overtime. The Bullies out-shot the Generals 42-30. Moreland made 24 saves in suffering the overtime loss. Atlantic City went 1-5 on the power play.

Friday, Brad Mehalko tallied a pair of goals and added an assist as the Wheeling Nailers defeated the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies 5-2 before 2506 at Boardwalk Hall. Wheeling opened the scoring at 19:17 of the first period as Mehalko slapped the puck by Bullies goaltender Jake Moreland for a 1-0 lead. The Nailers increased their advantage to 2-0 at 16:34 of the second when Eddie Pershin stripped Dave Reid of the puck and tucked it top shelf behind Moreland. The Bullies would counter at the end of the period on the power play as Reid's blast from the blue line sifted its way through traffic and by Wheeling goalie Tyler MacKay at 19:15 to cut the deficit to 2-1. Jon Cullen netted the equalizer at 3:33 of the third taking the cross-ice feed from Luke Curtin and tipping it by MacKay tying the game 2-2. Wheeling would take the lead for good on a Mario Larocque slapper from the blue line at 14:34 on the power play with Curtin in the penalty box giving the Nailers a 3-2 edge. Steve Crampton and Mehalko's second marker of the game capped the scoring at 16:43 and 17:14 respectively. Wheeling out-shot the Bullies 32-30. Moreland stopped 27 shots in suffering the loss. Atlantic City went 1-3 on the power play.

Saturday, Luke Curtin recorded a hat trick and Jake Moreland stopped 33 of 35 shots as the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies defeated the Wheeling Nailers 5-2 before 2962 at Boardwalk Hall in ECHL action Saturday. With the win, Atlantic City closes to within 2 points of the Nailers for first place in the Northern Division. The Bullies (33-12-4) opened the scoring 4:15 into the first period when Stefan Rivard from the right-wing circle slid the puck through Wheeling goaltender Tyler MacKay for a 1-0 lead. Curtin made it 2-0 with his first marker of the night, firing a slap shot from the blue line that beat MacKay near side at 7:07. Wheeling (35-13-2) would cut the deficit to 2-1 as Mario Larocque's drive sifted its way through traffic and into the back of the net at 10:15 on the power play. Eddie Pershin tallied the equalizer 41 seconds into the second period taking the feed in front from Ben Blais and tipping it by Moreland to tie the game 2-2. The Bullies would counter at 3:26 on the power play as Rivard from his own end came up to the right circle and fired a low slap shot that beat MacKay for a 3-2 lead. Curtin would add to the Bullies advantage at 10:57 of the second on the power play, picking up the loose puck in front of MacKay and slamming it home. Curtin capped the scoring for the Bullies with his third goal of the night at 14:39 of the third period on the power play to make the final 5-2. The Bullies and Wheeling each recorded 35 shots on goal. Atlantic City went 3-9 on the power play and has now recorded a power play goal in seven straight games.

BULLIES "TOP DAWG" AWARD: Each Monday from now until the end of the season, Public Relations and Broadcasting Manager Dan Weiss will select the Bullies "Top Dawg" for the week. This week's winner is Luke Curtin who extended his scoring streak to a season-high seven games and capped off the week with a hat trick against Wheeling on Saturday. Curtin registered 4 goals and 2 assists and was a +2 over the week. Honorable mention goes out to center Stefan Rivard (3 goals, 3 assists). Previous recent winners below include:

1/5/04: Brian Fahey (3 goals, GW goal)
1/12/04: Luke Curtin (4 goals, 4 assists)
1/19/04: Stefan Rivard (4 goals, 1 assist)
1/27/04: Aaron Foster (3 goals, 1 assist, 2 GW goals)
2/2/04: Jim Henkel (3 goals, 1 assist)
2/9/04: Jake Moreland (career-high 35 saves against Reading)

CURTIN CALL: Luke Curtin's hat trick on Saturday was his first regular season hat trick since March 23, 2002 when he tallied 4 goals in a 5-3 win vs. Reading. Curtin is currently riding a season-high 7-game scoring streak with 5 goals and 7 assists since February 1. He has tallied a point in 10 out of the last 11 games and has 51 points in his last 31 games. Curtin becomes the second Bullie to record a hat trick this season joining Jim Henkel who pulled the trick on Opening Night against Texas. The Bullies are 20-0-2 when Curtin scores a goal.

A NIGHT FIT FOR A CAPTAIN: Captain Stefan Rivard became the third Bullie this season to notch 4 points in a game with 2 goals and 2 assists on Saturday. Rivard has scored in 19 out of his last 23 games with 34 points (13 goals, 21 assists) in those 19 games. He has matched last season's assist total of 30. Sam Paolini (10/18/03 vs. Trenton) and Luke Curtin (12/3/03 @ Fresno) are the two other Bullies to record 4-point games.

POWER PLAY HIGH ON ENERGY: The Bullies matched a season-high with three power play goals on Saturday. Atlantic City tallied three power play goals back on October 18 against Trenton. The Bullies have scored a power play goal in seven consecutive games dating back to February 1, going 9-35 with the man advantage over that stretch, a 25.7% efficiency rate. Special teams have been exceptional against Wheeling as the Bullies are 6-32 (18.8%) on the power play and 25-27 (92.6%) on the penalty kill against the Nailers. 4 of the Bullies 11 shorthanded goals this season have also come at Wheeling's expense.

FIRST PERIOD OUTBURST: Prior to Saturday's two-goal outburst, the Bullies had failed to score a first period goal against the Nailers in their previous four meetings. The Bullies have outscored their opponents 47-24 in first periods this season, with the 24 goals allowed tied for fewest in any period with Peoria. Atlantic City is 28-1-1 this season when scoring the game's opening goal.

BULLIES IN THE COMMUNITY: The Bullies will be busy in and around the community this week:

Tuesday, defensemen Brian Fahey and Kam White will visit patients at Atlantic City Hospital - City Division from 3PM-4:30PM. Rookie forward Aaron Foster will join "Wooly" to sign autographs at the Little Egg Harbor Public Library from 6:30PM-7PM.

Thursday, center Preston Mizzi and goaltender Jake Moreland will speak about "character building" at Hess Elementary School from 1:15PM-2PM.

Saturday, defenseman Danny Eberly and forward John Longo will be signing autographs at Canal's Liquor Mart on the Black Horse Pike in Mays Landing from 1PM-3PM.

POWER PLAY FOR UNITED WAY: The Bullies have teamed up with United Way of Atlantic County to sponsor the Power Play for United Way. For every power play goal the Bullies score this season, Trump Plaza, Sands Casino Hotel, Advance Door & Supply, Kline Construction and HR Solutions will donate $10 dollars to United Way of Atlantic County. The Bullies tallied 5 more power play goals last week to run their season total to 54, good for $2,700 dollars towards the Power Play for United Way.

STAY ONLINE WITH THE BULLIES: Follow the Bullies throughout the season by pointing your computer mouse to www.boardwalkbullies.com. You can read game updates, get to know your favorite Bullies, and find out where "Wooly" and the team will be appearing next. Click and score with www.boardwalkbullies.com!

UP NEXT: The defending ECHL Kelly Cup Champions will play three games this week beginning at 7:05PM Wednesday when the Bakersfield Condors come to Boardwalk Hall. Friday, the Bullies travel to the Sovereign Center in Reading to meet the Royals at 7:05PM. Sunday, the Bullies conclude the week with a 2:05PM matinee affair against Bakersfield at Boardwalk Hall. Catch Friday's game from Reading on ESPN Radio 1450AM and all three games live on the Surfer Network at www.boardwalkbullies.com beginning with the pre-game show 20 minutes prior to face-off with Dan Weiss.

Every Wednesday home game this season is a "Wild Wednesday" presented by Coors Light and Molson Canadian. All college students, casino workers, military, and service industry personnell get in for just $6 dollars. Enjoy Coors Light and Molson Canadian draught beer for just $2 dollars all night.

Every Sunday home game this season is "Kids Day". All kids 12-and-under get in for just $1 dollar with the purchase a $15 dollar adult premier ticket. Stick around after the game for your chance to skate with the Bullies.

BULLIES SCHEDULE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16TH

Monday, February 16: Practice 10:30AM-12PM

Tuesday, February 17: Practice 10:30AM-12PM

Wednesday, February 18: Morning Skate 10AM; Bullies vs. Bakersfield 7:05PM

Thursday, February 19: Practice 10:30AM-12PM

Friday, February 20: Morning Skate 10AM @ Flyers SkateZone; Bullies @ Reading 7:05PM

Saturday, February 21: Off Day

Sunday, February 22: Bullies vs. Bakersfield 2:05PM

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