Gulls’ Four-Game Streak Skids to a Halt in Albany

Last-place Albany brought the Gulls’ string of four victories to a halt Tuesday night with a 5-2 International Hockey League victory at Knickerbocker Arena. The Gulls fell to 7-3-1 on the road.

It marked the 19th time in 24 games the Gulls have allowed the first goal. This time, the scoring was opened by Nicholas Beaulieu, who got his ninth goal of the season at 8:10. Teammate Mike Golden, who ended up with a hat trick, scored his first goal of the year at 14:20 for the 2-0 lead, then scored again in the second at 4:12.

Clark Donatelli pulled the Gulls (12-10-2) to 3-1, scoring his ninth goal on the power play at 8:20, with assists by Derek Mayer and Brent Sapergia. It was the Gulls’ 36th power-play goal of the season, a league-leading total.

“We weren’t as sharp as we have been lately,” Coach Mike O’Connell said. “But that happens sometimes on the road.”

Dennis Holland took a feeder from Charlie Simmer to record his ninth goal at 14:15 in the second and pull the Gulls to 3-2. It was as close as they would get.

The Choppers (7-14-3) scored twice in the third, at 18:30 on a goal by Yeves Heroux, then with 50 seconds left, Golden got his third goal of the night--and the season--to close the scoring.

Goalie Alain Chevrier stopped 15 of 20 shots and the Gulls outshot Albany 35-20. Chevrier is 2-1 since joining the team Saturday.