Holland, Hanlon Stop Gulls’ Two-Game Skid

Dennis Holland has been hot.

Thursday, he sparked the visiting Gulls to a 5-1 victory over the Muskegon Lumberjacks at L.C. Walker Arena in front of 2,843.

The victory snapped San Diego’s two-game losing streak and improved its record to 10-9-2 in the Western Division in the International Hockey League. The Gulls are in second place. Muskegon is 10-9-1.

With the victory, the Gulls are 5-0-1 in their past six road games after losing their first two. Muskegon was the first stop on a six-game road trip, San Diego’s longest of the season.

Holland scored twice and had two assists against the Lumberjacks. In the past seven games, he’s scored 16 goals. He contributed to San Diego’s first four goals as the Gulls’ won by their biggest margin of the season.

Although Holland had a big night, Coach Mike O’Connell praised goalie Glen Hanlon, who stopped 29 of 30 shots for the Gulls. Hanlon’s record is 6-4.

“Glen Hanlon held us in contention for the first part of the game, then we got out legs under us and we started to play well,” O’Connell said. “I felt we played flawlessly in the third period--it was our best hockey of the season.”

The Gulls, who led 2-1 after two periods, outshot the Lumberjacks 16-7 in the third period and scored three times in a span of 3:09. Holland and Mike Gober assisted on Darren Lowe’s second goal at 2:36, which put the Gulls ahead 3-1.

Holland made it 4-1 off an assist from Taylor Hall at 4:59, and Bob Jones closed the scoring at 6:45, off assists from Derek Mayer and Darcy Norton.

Muskegon took a 1-0 lead at 13:51 in the first period, the 16th time in 21 games San Diego has allowed the first goal. The Gulls have a 7-7-2 record in those games.

Lowe tied the game on a power-play at 13:01 in the second period. Holland and Brent Sapergia had assists. There were few opportunities for power plays because the Gulls, for the first time this season, didn’t commit a penalty. Muskegon had 14 minutes in penalties.

Holland’s first goal of the game came at 18:13 off a pass from Sapergia and gave the Gulls a 2-1 lead.

The road trip continues Saturday at Kansas City.