Tired Gulls Get No Relief In Las Vegas, 6-2

January 10, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


LAS VEGAS - Two days after losing to the team with the ECHL's best winning percentage, the tired and beat-up San Diego Gulls didn't get a break Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Boasting the most points in the league, the host Wranglers scored five goals over 10 minutes to run away from the Gulls, 6-2 at the Orleans Arena.

The result kept San Diego (15-14-4) tied for second place in the Pacific Division with idle Long Beach, while Las Vegas (27-6-3) improved to an impressive 15-1-2 at home. Exactly two weeks after knocking off the Gulls 7-2 in the same arena, the Wranglers dominated by out-shooting San Diego 29-22.

The Gulls, who lost 6-3 to Alaska on Sunday, kept Las Vegas off the scoreboard for more than 13 minutes to start Tuesday's match. But once the Wranglers got going, they didn't let up. Dan Tudin's goal at the 13:13 mark of the opening frame set off a flurry of five Las Vegas scores, spanning 10:03 into the fourth minute of the second period.

San Diego finally got on the board - twice - in the third period. At the 2:53 mark, defenseman Evan Shaw broke the ice with his first goal as a Gull and second of the year. Kelly Askew added his initial score with San Diego and first since 2002 with 11:40 left to make it 6-2. The forward signed with the team Friday after coming out of retirement.

About the only other good news of the day for San Diego came when the league named Tyler Weiman as the Reebok Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week. The 21-year-old received the award after going 2-0-0 with a 1.26 goals against average and .960 save percentage from Jan. 1-8. Prior to Tuesday, he had won six of his previous seven decisions while stopping 94.9 percent of the shots he faced.

Nonetheless, the Wranglers made things difficult for Weiman and the Gulls defense with some beautiful passes to set up their six goals, led by a pair from Chris Stanley. Las Vegas notched a trio of scores in the opening period, including two just 1:24 apart and one with 22 seconds before the intermission. In the second, the Wranglers added three more tallies, capped by a goal with a mere 13 seconds prior to the break.

San Diego suited up only 14 skaters, as six players remain on the injured list with another four playing up with Lowell of the American Hockey League. The Gulls also played their fifth game in seven nights.

Notes: Grady Moore notched his 22nd assist, which ranks in the top five among ECHL defensemen in that department... The six Gulls on the injured list include Alex Kim (broken collarbone), Alex Rogosheske (torn ACL), David Svagrovsky (tear in finger), Guillaume Fournier (concussion), Doug MacIver (sprained knee) and Andy Thompson (wrist surgery)... Defenseman Jonathan Shockey has a three-game point streak (2g, 1a), while Pierre-Luc Sleigher saw his six-match point streak snapped...

The Gulls are back home Friday "The 13th" against the Bakersfield Condors, with game-time set for 7:35 p.m. It will be a "Free Food Fright Night," with the first 3,500 fans receiving a free hot dog. Saturday, the Alaska Aces will be back in town and the first 6,000 fans will get a special Willie O'Ree ball cap. Game-time Saturday is 7:05 p.m.

All games can be heard on KLSD 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. Most games can also be viewed on the Gulls' Web site, courtesy of B2 Networks (All upcoming games CAN BE VIEWED). Click the B2 Networks (Watch the Game Live) link on the home page for a list of the upcoming telecasted games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.zerodogentertainment.com.



ECHL Stories from January 10, 2006


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