San Diego Gulls try to extend three-game winning streak at next game

SAN DIEGO (CNS) - The San Diego Gulls will try to extend a three-game winning streak when they resume their four-game homestand Friday following Saturday night's 5-4 victory over the Bakersfield Condors.

Sam Carrick, Troy Terry and Corey Tropp each had a goal and an assist and goaltender Jared Coreau made 45 saves for the Gulls (3-2-0-0) before a crowd announced at 7,056 at Valley View Casino Center. The Gulls never trailed. They took the lead for good six minutes, 25 seconds into the second period on left wing Ben Thomson's first goal in his five games this season. The goal came on the Gulls second shot of the period. They also scored on their first, a power-play goal by Chase De Leo 3:09 into the period that gave them a 3-1 lead.

The Gulls increased their lead to 5-3 1:30 into the third period on Carrick's wrist shot from the faceoff dot. Bakersfield cut the led to 5-4 on Cameron Hebig's power-play goal with 4:28 to play.

Condors coach Jay Woodcroft pulled goaltender Al Montoya with less than two minutes remaining for a sixth attacker, but they were unable to score the tying goal.

The Gulls were outshot, 49-23, including 15-7 in the first period and 24-10 in the second.

The 49 shots allowed were the second-most the Gulls have allowed in their three seasons plus five games in the American Hockey League behind the 55 allowed in a 5-2 victory over Ontario on Feb. 17.

Montoya (2-2-0-0) made 18 saves.

The Gulls, the Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate, killed four of Bakersfield's five power-play opportunities and scored on one of their three.

Tropp put in a rebound to open the scoring 2:27 into the game.

The Condors, the Edmonton Oilers AHL affiliate, tied the score 13:47 into the first period when rookie center Cooper Marody's backhanded shot deflected off a body and into the net for his first goal in his five games with the team this season.

The Gulls regained the lead at 17:19 of the first period on Terry's long-distance wrist shot.

Marody scored on a rebound 49 seconds after De Leo's goal. Bakersfield (2-3-0-0) capitalized on a turnover by Coreau behind the net to tie the score 3-3 on Brad Malone's goal 5:15 into the second period.

"A win is a win," Tropp said. "Obviously there's definitely things we need to clean up. We were hemmed in our zone a couple times and they got a bunch of shots."

After not getting into a fight in any of their first three games, the Gulls had their second in two games Saturday. Defenseman Steve Oleksy and Condors center Luke Esposito drew five-minute major penalties for their fight 3:02 into the game.

The Gulls will play host to the Stockton Heat, the Calgary Flames AHL affiliate, Friday, October 26.