Gulls, Knickle Continue to Dominate

The Golden Eagles became the Gulls’ latest victim Wednesday by suffering a 3-2 loss in front of 4,281 at the Delta Center. With the victory, the Gulls (13-0-1) opened a 14-point lead in the IHL’s Pacific Division over the Golden Eagles (6-7-1).

Goalie Rick Knickle improved to 10-0-0 and still has more victories than any other IHL team, but his goals-against average actually increased from 1.69 to 1.72.

It could have been another drubbing for the Gulls--who have outscored their opponents, 20-5, since their only loss of the year five games ago--if it weren’t for the work of Salt Lake goalie Trevor Kidd and his 23 saves.

Robbie Nichols started the scoring 12 minutes into the first period by converting on a power play. Salt Lake, though, tied it 49 seconds later on a goal by Tomas Forslund.

Hubie McDonough scored in the second period. It was McDonough’s third short-handed goal of the year and the fifth for the Gulls, who lead the league in that category.

Darren Stolk tied it for Salt Lake.

The game winner, with 1:02 remaining, came after roughing penalties to the Gulls’ Sergei Starikov and Salt Lake’s Shawn Heaphy opened the ice.

Realizing the potential advantage, Coach Rick Dudley sent out his top two playmakers, John Anderson and Hubie McDonough. It was McDonough and Anderson, who dropped the puck back to Don McSween in the slot, who set up the goal.