Muskegon Throttles Gulls in 8-4 Victory

Barely after the Gulls climb back within reach of the league’s leaders, someone goes and moves the ladder.

The Gulls have their coach and fans--but mostly themselves--befuddled and confounded by their inability to string together more than two consecutive victories--the last trifecta came Nov. 22, 24 and 26 on the road.

The scratching continued Tuesday night at the Sports Arena. In front of a crowd of 5,742, the Gulls lost, 8-4, to fifth-place Muskegon of the Eastern Division.

The Gulls were aiming for the International Hockey League victory that would make tonight’s rematch against Muskegon a chance at a three-game streak.

It’s a no go.

A victory would have given the Gulls a boost, as well as identical records and a three-way tie for second in the West with Salt Lake and Phoenix.

Instead, the loss keeps the Gulls (23-23-4) in third and nipping at the heels.

That the Lumberjacks are the Pittsburgh Penguins’ top affiliates and dress in black and gold partially explains why they put up a defense that at times resembled the Iron Curtain.

And when the curtain when up, the Gulls looked like a handful of Staypuff Marshmallows.

The Gulls led, 3-2, going into the second period, but two Muskegon goals in a 52-second span toward the end of the second helped the Lumberjacks (21-23-3) take a 5-4 lead into the third.

And when the Gulls have allowed five or more goals, their record was 0-19-1.

It just got worse.

“We just have to get back to basic hockey,” said the Gulls’ Larry Floyd, who had his second two-goal game of the year, his first coming Dec. 26 against Phoenix.

All semblance of balance was lost in the third period, where Muskegon scored three goals with little interruption or fuss from the Gulls, who were shut out by goalie Chris Clifford.

Muskegon’s Mike Mersch scored the game-tying goal in the second period, but, 10 seconds later, the Gulls regained the lead, 4-3. On a faceoff from the right circle, Steve Martinson passed to Rod Dallman, who scored his first goal in his third game with San Diego.

The lead slipped, then slid from their fingers.

Playing a man short, Muskegon’s Dave Michayluk scored outside the crease at 12:00, and Jamie Leach scored 52 seconds later for the 5-4 lead.

Gulls Notes

As the Gulls have come to learn, goodby isn’t always forever, sometimes it just means “see you later.” For the second time this season, goalie Alain Chevrier was recalled by the Detroit Red Wings. Detroit has lost former Gull Glenn Hanlon to a wrist injury for two weeks and No. 1 goalie Tim Cheveldae has the flu. Chevrier, 29, is 6-8-0 with a 4.28 goals against average. He beat IHL West leader Peoria, 4-3 in overtime Saturday and joins the Red Wings tonight in Minnesota. Scooter Henson of Coronado rejoins the Gulls as a backup goalie.