Gulls Emerge from Slump to Top Phoenix : Hockey: Surge in second period lets San Diego snap its three-game losing streak.
SAN DIEGO — The Gulls, who went into a funk after the stroke of midnight on New Year’s, finally decided to “bear down†Tuesday. And they brought an end to a three-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the Phoenix Roadrunners at the San Diego Sports Arena.
The victory made the Gulls 8-1-0 against the International Hockey League West Division rival Roadrunners, the top minor-league affiliate of the Kings. It also ended, for now, any suspicion that the Gulls could be starting the same downward spiral that cost them a playoff appearance a year ago.
It took a freak second-period goal by Phoenix’s Bill O’Dwyre to help the Gulls snap out of what Coach Don Waddell called a mental slump and improve to 21-15-3 (48 points). O’Dwyre scored on a faceoff in front of the Gulls’ net to tie the game, 2-2, and Gulls goalie Bruce Hoffort (6-4-1) couldn’t believe it.
Neither could the Gulls’ bench.
“We had a little bit of the blues in the first period,†Waddell said. “I told them between periods that we have to jump all over them and start creating opportunities. But when Phoenix (12-23-5, 29 points) scored off the faceoff, the players on the bench said, ‘Guys, let’s bear down.’ â€
The third-place Gulls, who had blown third-period leads in losing their previous three games, were tied, 3-3, in the second period when they turned their 10th home victory into a rout.
Tied 1-1 after the first period, the Gulls still looked flabby until 7:02 remained in the second. That’s when they scored three times to break a 3-3 deadlock. Ray Whitney, who got free in the Roadrunner zone with a pass from Dmitri Kvartalnov, skated to the crease by himself and flipped the puck over over goalie David Goverde’s glove shoulder.
At 5:31, with Goverde lunging and trying to reach a rebound of Brian Straub’s shot off that caromed off the boards, Ron Duguay backhanded one in--5-3, Gulls. Then with 1:08 left Duguay, who came in with only one empty-net goal in his previous 18 games, scored from the right circle after a long crossing pass from Keith Gretzky.
Denny Lambert, celebrating his 22nd birthday, then scored 5:31 into the third period to make it 7-3. But the Gulls appeared content to exchange goals and punches in a game that produced 23 penalties and more than a dozen fistfights until Whitney’s goal.
But who could blame the 3,525 fans, who came despite a heavy rains, for waiting in their seats with dubious anticipation before faceoff? The Gulls had no sooner ascended to second place in the IHL West standings the previous week when they blew three games on the road, yielding third-period leads in each.
Who could blame the fans if they began to recall last season at this time? The Gulls went ice cold in the winter, falling from second place and out of what appeared to be a sure playoff berth.
Waddell sat in the stands as general manager last year and watched as the Gulls lost 12 of 13 games after Christmas, including nine at home. He all but guaranteed the same thing would not happen again, despite the fact the Gulls have dropped four of their past five, three in overtime and three after they led by two or more goals.
“I watched all the tapes,†Waddell said. “Every goal except one was a mental mistake. It wasn’t that we got beat by talent. We’re as good as any of those teams. We got beat by mental mistakes.â€
Gulls Notes
Center Len Hachborn, the IHL assist leader with 37, missed Tuesday’s game with a deep thigh bruise. . . . The severe flu strain is working its way into the Gulls’ locker room. Defenseman Sergei Starikov missed eight games with the flu in December. Now goalie Rick Knickle (13-7-2, 3.51 goals-against average) is expected to be sidelined for the entire three-game home stand with the illness. Knickle experienced flu symptoms as far back as the third period Dec. 27 against Kansas City, as the Gulls blew a two-goal lead with 3:08 left to lose, 5-4, in overtime. . . . Knickle’s replacement for the time being is Edward “Scooter†Henson, 24, who is not considered a professional hockey player but is a tennis pro at the Hotel Del Coronado. Henson, who played goalie at U.S. International University, plays for the San Diego Surf in the Pacific Southwest Senior A semipro league.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
