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Gulls Subdue Idaho, End Loss Skein |
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By Phillip
Brents
Midway through the second period, any of the 5,501 spectators in attendance would not have surmised as much – certainly not with the Gulls holding a 2-0 edge on the scoreboard and a commanding 30-9 bulge in shots on goal. San Diego (4-4-1) won the game 2-1, finishing with a 42-22 margin in shots on the first-place Steelheads (7-2-1).
San Diego entered the game against Idaho having been outscored 21-9 while going 0-4-1 in its previous five outings. Even more misery: The Gulls were 3-for-40 on the power play. Martinson has to hope his team has started a new streak – in the opposite direction. San Diego got the jump goal after both teams had had ample opportunities on the power play. Sandro Sbrocca, assisted by Joe Bianchi, gave the Gulls a 1-0 lead at 10:05 of the first period. The goal came at even strength.
The second period would feature more of the same territorial domination by the hosts. Nine minutes into the middle stanza, the Gulls had outshot Idaho 28-7 but still had only a 1-0 lead to show for it because of the standout performance by Cugnet. However, the second-year Steelheads ’tender could only hold his hand in the dike for so long. Mark Pederson finally managed to get a second shot past Cugnet – roofing a shot into the top netting at 12:47. The unassisted goal – again at even strength -- gave San Diego a much deserved 2-0 lead. The Gulls ended the period holding a 34-12 lead in shots. The third period penalty scorecard clearly placed the Gulls on the defensive, however. Idaho received four power plays in the final 20 minutes compared to two for San Diego. The Steelheads started their string of man-advantage situations 2:40 into the period and scored with one second remaining on the power play courtesy of a shot by Cory Morgan, assisted by teammates Chris Marinuci and Michal Pinc. Immediately after the goal, the Gulls lost two men – defenseman Dennis Mullen to a game misconduct and right wing Dennis Purdie to a cross-checking call. Though the Steelies did not score on that power play, the tempo was set for the remainder of the period as Idaho clearly had the momentum to finish the game. Purdie was sent to the penalty box again at 7:55 on an interference call; Dan Cousineau sat down at 11:24 for another cross check. Idaho finished the third period with a 10-8 edge in shots – the only period in which the visitors managed to outshoot the hosts.
Idaho, which had racked up a 20-8 goal-differential in winning its last five games, finished 1-for-9 on the power play. The Gulls’ man-advantage woes continued as they went 0-for-8 to drop to 3-for-48. Cugnet finished the contest with 40 saves; Koenig was credited with 21. Notepad Though their
team might be sporting the worst record in the league, Anchorage’s
Yvan Corbin (6 goals, 6 assists) and Dean Larson (5 goals, 7 assists) ranked
in a tie for the league scoring lead with 12 points. Bakersfield’s
Kevin St. Pierre led the early season goaltending derby with a 1.35 GAA,
.957 save percentage and one shutout in three appearances. |
FEATURE ARTICLES
AROUND
THE WCHL GAME RECAPS PROFILES IN HOCKEY PRESS RELEASES |
The
two teams that took the ice Friday night at the San Diego Sports Arena had
been heading in opposite directions. The visiting Idaho Steelheads were
riding a five-game winning streak; the host San Diego Gulls were off to
their worst start in franchise history, mired in a five-game winless streak.
