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Weary Gulls stunned by pesky Falcons

February 23, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


SAN DIEGO –– It would have been another solid week for the San Diego Gulls if it weren't for those pesky Fresno Falcons. Fresno is bringing up the rear in the Western Conference but beating them has been a major bug-a-boo for the Gulls this season. And it's because of them that dropped San Diego out of the top spot among all ECHL teams.

The Gulls began the week concluding their Central Division road trip, which saw them fall in overtime to the Louisiana IceGators on Monday, then lose Tuesday night in a shootout to the Mississippi Sea Wolves. The road-weary San Diegans then came home to beat the Las Vegas Wranglers on Thursday before falling to Fresno on Saturday. The setback to the Falcons snapped the Gulls' ECHL season-high 14-game home winning streak.

With the 1-1-2 record last week, the Gulls fall out of the top spot in the overall ECHL standings, now two points behind the Wheeling Nailers. Both San Diego and Atlantic City have 76 points. The Blue and Orange still lead the Western Conference – two points ahead of Louisiana – and Pacific Division – eight points in front of Las Vegas and the Idaho Steelheads.

WEEK IN REVIEW:

Feb. 16 @ Louisiana:

In the first-ever match-up between the two top teams in the Western Conference, it was Louisiana that came out on top, beating the Gulls 2-1 in overtime. After a scoreless first period, Semir Ben-Amor gave the IceGators a 1-0 lead early in the second. Sylvain Deschatelets tied it later in the second, connecting on passes from Greg Barber and Cliff Loya. That's how it stayed until Ed McGrane won it 3:49 into overtime. Louisiana goaltender Derek Gustafson stopped 41 of 42 shots to lead the Gators to victory.

Feb. 17 @ Mississippi:

The Gulls faced another Central Division opponent for the first time and played another tight game, but eventually fell in a shootout to the Sea Wolves. Deschatelets gave San Diego a 1-0 first-period lead before Louis Dumont netted two goals four minutes apart in the second. Mark Pederson tied the game with 12 seconds left in regulation and after a scoreless overtime, the game headed to the shootout period. All three Sea Wolves beat Trevor Koenig in the shootout while all three San Diego shooters were stopped by Mississippi netminder Greg Gardner.

Feb. 19 vs. Las Vegas:

Billy Tibbetts scored once and added three assists, while newcomer Brian Gornick added two goals and a helper, leading the Gulls back in the win column with a 5-1 trouncing of the Wranglers. Las Vegas made it 1-0 but it was all Gulls from there. Gornick tied it late in the first and San Diego grabbed the lead for good on Barber's power-play goal 57 seconds into the middle frame. Gornick gave the Blue and Orange a two-goal cushion later in the second before Deschatelets and Tibbetts put the game away in the third.

Feb. 20 vs. Fresno:

Terry Friesen turned away 51 of 54 shots, leading Fresno to a 5-3 win over the Gulls, ending San Diego's 14-game home winning streak. Despite being out-shot 15-2 midway through the first, the Falcons were still able to get on the board, thanks to Mike Mathers' first of the game. Sandro Sbrocca tied it later in the frame, but the Falcons scored twice in the second period to grab a 3-1 lead. Tibbetts crept San Diego back within one early in the third, but Fresno regained the two-goal advantage moments later. Koenig replaced starting goaltender David Burleigh and the Gulls again drew within one, but Mathers sealed the win with an empty-netter.

THIS WEEK:

The Gulls now embark on a short two-game road trip that sees them play Wednesday in Fresno and Friday in Las Vegas. Both games begin at 7 p.m. San Diego then returns home on Saturday to take on the South Carolina Stingrays. It will be a 5:05 p.m. start and Gulls caps, courtesy of Channel 4 San Diego, will be given to the first 8,000 fans in attendance.

Player Notes:

Pederson, Barber and Deschatelets have combined for 100 points (39, 61a) in the last 23 games... Pederson has 43 points (25g, 18a) in his last 28 games and leads the league with 36 goals overall... Barber has 36 points (13g, 23a) in his last 23 games... He leads all ECHL rookies with 57 points and 35 assists. Barber is tied for second among rookies with 22 goals... Deschatelets has 43 points (10g, 33a) in the last 28 games... Brain Gornick was returned to the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks on Sunday... Josh Gratton remains with AHL's Mighty Ducks... Dennis Purdie (sprained shoulder) and Kevin Grant (neck strain) both remain on the injured list... Team Notes:

Saturday's loss was just the second of the season against a divisional opponent at home this year for the Gulls and snapped an ECHL season-high 14 game home winning streak... The Gulls are 23-5-0 at home this season, including a 21-2-0 mark against Pacific Division foes... San Diego is unbeaten in 17 of its last 19 games (14-2-3) and 30 of its last 35 overall (26-5-4), outscoring its opponents 126-80...

All games can be heard live on KPOP 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. The next edition of the Gulls Internet Radio show, hosted by Tera Black and Jeremy Zager on wsRadio.com, will air live Monday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. To view pictures from this season, visit www.sdgullsphotos.com.

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