Gulls Fall to Kansas City

The Gulls came into their game with Kansas City leading the league in power-play goals with 56, but when they failed to score on three opportunities in the first period, it sparked Kansas City to a 6-1 International Hockey League victory Monday in front of 8,042 at Kemper Arena.

The Blades committed three consecutive penalties early in the period, but the Gulls were unable to convert on those or two later power-play opportunities.

“We had about seven golden opportunities in the first period to score, but we couldn’t do it,” Gulls Coach Mike O’Connell said. “We hit a couple of posts, we missed a couple of open nets and that came back to haunt us. It was one of those nights where we deserved better.”

Kansas City scored twice in the opening period and took a 3-0 lead before San Diego’s Mike Sullivan scored an unassisted goal, his fourth goal of the season, with four minutes left in the second period.

The Gulls (17-17-4) remained in third place in the Western Division. Kansas City, last in the West, is 12-25-1.

Gull goalie Alain Chevrier (4-6) stopped 23 of 29 shots. The Gulls outshot the Blades, 35-29.