Phoenix Keeps Home Edge Over Gulls

PHOENIX — It will be interesting to see how the Gulls fare against Phoenix when the Roadrunners visit the San Diego Sports Arena Wednesday night. At home, the Gulls have won three of four games, but at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, they consistently get hammered.

Saturday, in front of 5,587, the Gulls were drubbed, 8-2, and dropped their record in Arizona to 0-3. This marks the end of a horrendous road trip, where they lost four of five outings.

“We ran out of gas,” said Gull Coach Mike O’Connell. “We put our brains on the shelf. We tried to give it a go, but we just couldn’t.”

Dennis Holland scored twice for the Gulls (16-15-3), the first a power-play goal 55 seconds into the game. Assists went to Larry Floyd, giving him a point in eight consecutive games, and Derek Mayer, who has a point in the past 17 of 18 games.

Phoenix came rumbling back, scoring five goals against goalie Alain Chevrier. Sylvain Coutrier scored back to back goals, one shorthanded, then Jeff Rohlicek scored at 14:29 on the power play to put the Roadrunners (13-18-1) up 3-1 after one period.

Marc Saumier and Rohlicek, scoring shorthanded, made it 5-1, before Chevrier was pulled. Holland got his 13th goal of the year at 15:59, to cut the lead to 5-2.

In the third, Daryn McBride scored twice and Saumier was heard from once again before Phoenix was finally silent.

The Gulls, aided by Salt Lake’s 2-1 loss to Indianapolis, stay one point ahead of third-place Salt Lake in the Western Division of the International Hockey League.

Fifth place Phoenix outshot the Gulls, 33-22.