Rivermen Contribute to Gulls’ Frustration

The Gulls had their hands full Friday night, dealing first with the reappearance of David Bruce, the International Hockey League’s leading scorer, and then with the frustration after a disallowed goal.

The result was the Gulls’ third consecutive loss, 5-3, in front of 6,513 at the Peoria Civic Center.

Bruce, whom the St. Louis Blues called up Tuesday, played one game, then was sent back to Peoria Friday. He scored his 39th, 40th and 41st goals and his sixth three-goal game this season.

Another setback for the Gulls came at 7:08 in the third, with the Rivermen leading, 3-2. Darren Lowe, benched Wednesday by Coach Mike O’Connell for playing uninspired hockey, scored the apparent tying goal, but a holding call on teammate Rod Dallman washed it out.

O’Connell still found favor in the performance, after a two-game sweep at home against the Muskegon Lumberjacks earlier in the week.

“We played well,” he said. “At least we didn’t beat ourselves.”

Peoria (37-9-2), has 76 points and are the runaway leaders of the West. The Gulls (23-25-4), still stuck on 50 points, are fourth in the West, behind Salt Lake (56 points) and Phoenix (53). However they are seven points ahead of tonight’s opponent--the Milwaukee Admirals. Tonight’s game will be televised live beginning at 5:30 on San Diego Cable Network.

Darcy Norton scored first, his eighth of the year and the Gulls’ 72nd on the power play, at 8:07.

Peoria made it 1-1 going into the second, when Dallman scored his second goal of the year at 3:46 for the 2-1 lead. Bruce knotted it again at 16:15.

Dave Thomlinson, who had a goal and two assists, put Peoria up 3-2 on a power-play goal at 2:17 in the third.

The nets stayed empty until Lowe’s goal was washed out, then Bruce scored again, once on the power play and once with the Rivermen playing down a man. It was the 16th shorthanded goal the Gulls have allowed this season, the sixth in their last five games.

Mark Reimer (3-3-1), making his first appearance with the Gulls since Nov. 4th, got the loss. He rejoined the team from the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League. The Gulls outshot Peoria, 33-31.

Steve Martinson scored at 19:20 to close out the scoring.