Wheeling Beats Gulls in Shootout, 3-2
February 17, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release
SAN DIEGO â The Wheeling Nailers out-shot the San Diego Gulls 34-18, but it took a shootout for them to claim a 3-2 victory Wednesday night at Sports Arena. With the loss, the Gulls fall FOUR points back of the fourth-place Fresno Falcons.
San Diego (25-17-6) had two one-goal leads in the contest, including a 2-1 advantage heading into the third period, but Wheeling kept nailing away... no pun intended. The Nailers (29-17-2) tied it early in the third and had a bunch of other chances later in regulation and overtime, but finally scored the two points in the shootout.
After a scoreless first period, the Gulls finally drew first blood 3:35 into the second on a Brian Gornick power-play goal. Locked out NHLer Curtis Brown had the puck along the left wing boards and threaded a cross-ice pass to Gornick, who one-timed it off the out-stretched pads of Wheeling goaltender Joe Exter and across the goal line. It was Gornick's team-leading 19th goal and Brown's club-leading 24th assist.
The Nailers tied it at 8:24 of the second on Ed McGrane's 16th marker of the season. San Diego netminder Eddy Ferhi had the puck behind the net, but McGrane took it away and flipped it home.
San Diego came right back 30 seconds later with another power-play goal, this time by Max Birbraer. Rookie defenseman Nikita Korovkin held the puck in at the left point and sent a shot that Birbraer redirected past Exter for his 13th tally.
Wheeling tied it again one minute into the third period on Curtiss Patrick's second goal of the season. Steve Crampton took a pass at center ice from Alex Rouleau and then found a wide-open Patrick, who streaked all alone into the Gulls zone and beat Ferhi over his shoulder.
That's how things stayed through the rest of regulation and overtime, so the game headed to a shootout. In the extra session, Ray DiLauro and Evgeny Lazarev scored for the Nailers, while Exter stopped four of five Gulls shooters. The only San Diegan to beat Exter in the shootout was Sylvan Deschatelets.
Notes: San Diego is 4-6-2 against teams outside of its division... The Gulls are now 16-5-3 at home this season, out-scoring its opponents 90-68... They are 9-12-3 on the road and have been outscored 76-55... San Diego killed all four penalties Wednesday, but has allowed at least two power-play goals in 14 games this season... Brown has six points (2g, 4a) in his last four games... Mike Garrow (concussion) and Scott Borders (quad-contusion) both remain on the seven-day injured list... Evgueni Nourislamov (broken thumb) and Wes Rypien (knee sprain) both remain on the 30-day injured list... Andrew Canzanello remains with the American Hockey League's Cincinnati Mighty Ducks...
The Gulls return to action Friday in Fresno, with game-time from Save Mart Center set for 7 p.m. San Diego will host the Bakersfield Condors Saturday at 7:05 p.m. It will be "Trucker Night," presented by Hawthorne Machinery, and the first 6,000 fans in attendance will receive a Gulls Trucker Hat.
All games can be heard live on KLSD 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. All home games and many road games can be viewed on the Gulls' web site, courtesy of B2 Networks. Click the B2 Networks link on the home page for a list of the upcoming telecasted games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.sdgullsphotos.com and www.zerodogentertainment.com.
ECHL Stories from February 17, 2005
- Pride Hold Off Sea Wolves 5-4 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Naud and Kidney Tally Three Points in Pride Win - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Bowling With The Team - Las Vegas Wranglers
- ECHL Awards 2006 All-Star Game To Fresno - ECHL
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Falcons Sign Bayrack to PTO - Fresno Falcons
- Bullies To Dedicate 2004-05 Season To Evan Newman - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Rivermen to Appear at Champion Fitness and U.S. Cellular Thursday, February 17 - Peoria Rivermen
- Second-Annual Kelly Cup Tour Opens Friday In Reading - ECHL
- Todd Ford Reassigned From St. John's - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Inaugural Captain's Club Game-Worn Jersey Auction Begins Thursday - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Now playing: Trenton Titans - Trenton Devils
- Falcons Shutout Salmon Kings - Fresno Falcons
- Wild, Wild West - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Wheeling Beats Gulls in Shootout, 3-2 - San Diego Gulls
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
