Gulls’ Hot Power Play Scorches Milwaukee

The Gulls love the power play and they love to play the Milwaukee Admirals. They got both Saturday and snapped a three-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory at the Bradley Center.

A crowd of 12,528, third largest in the International Hockey League this season, saw the Gulls score three power-play goals and beat the Admirals for the fifth time in 18 days.

The Gulls, 24-25-4 and in fourth place in the IHL West, are 6-1-1 against Milwaukee this season. The victory gave them 52 points and a nine-point lead over the fifth-place Admirals (20-28-3, 43 points) in a race for the final playoff spot. But with 29 games left, 18 at home, Gull Coach Mike O’Connell is not ready to start celebrating.

“It won’t feel good until we clinch a playoff spot,” O’Connell said. “I know we got a lot of games coming up at home. We’ve got a lot of good teams coming in, and we’ll have to stay focused. When we’re focused, we’re a very good team. But we’re not focused, we aren’t.”

The only non-power play goal by the Gulls came when Ron Duguay broke a 3-3 tie and scored the game-winner two minutes and 40 seconds into the third quarter. Gull left winger Bob Jones had the puck and drew out Milwaukee goalie Ian Kidd, then slid a pass to Duguay, who was open on the left side.

The Gulls lead the IHL with 76 power-play goals, and Darren Lowe opened the scoring with one 3:13 into the first period. Darcy Norton and Steve Martinson also scored on the power play to tie the game, 2-2 and 3-3, in the second period. Then, after Duguay’s go-ahead score in the third, the Gulls held off Milwaukee for the final 17:20.

Gull goalie Scott Brower saved 31 of 34 shots to lift his record to 9-10-3 and snap a personal three-game losing streak. He is 6-1-1 against the Admirals.

“Our power play came through for us, and Scotty (Brower) played great,” O’Connell said. “He always seems to be at his best when he plays Milwaukee.”

The Gulls, who have just one game left against the Admirals, will open a six-game home stand Tuesday against the IHL East leading Kalamazoo Wings.