Ice Adds a Loss to Gull Skid

Road woes continued Friday night for the Gulls. They suffered their worst defeat of the season and third shutout, getting blanked by the Indianapolis Ice, 9-0, at the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds Coliseum.

The loss dropped the Gulls (20-21-4) to 1-10-1 in their past 12 road games. Their last road victory came Dec. 21, against Kansas City.

It was the most goals they have given up since Oct. 30, when they lost 9-3 to the Peoria Rivermen.

“It was one of those games where we worked our tails off in the first and second period, and had nothing to show for it,” Gulls Coach Mike O’Connell said. “We must have spent the first 15 to 20 minutes in their zone, but we couldn’t buy one.”

Nine players scored for the Ice (25-14-3), including Brian Noonan, who had three assists to go with his second-period goal.

“Teams are going to get their chances and they simply didn’t miss,” said O’Connell, whose team gave up two shorthanded goals.

Indianapolis’ Dominik Hasek, the No. 1 goalie on goals-against average in the International Hockey League going into Friday’s game (2.67), stopped 29 shots on goal by the Gulls. He improved to 13-6-1. Gulls goalie Alain Chevrier (2-7) stopped 26 of 35 Ice shots.

Phoenix was idle Friday, enabling the Gulls to remain in third, one point ahead of the Roadrunners, in the IHL West. They meet Milwaukee tonight and Sunday at the Bradley Center.

The Gulls were 0 for 9 on the power play Friday, 5 for 54 in their past eight games.

Clark Donatelli, second on the Gulls with 17 goals, left the game in the second period with a slight concussion.