Gulls Squander Big Lead, Fall to Golden Eagles

The Gulls wasted an early two-goal lead for the second time in three games Thursday night as the Salt Lake Golden Eagles rallied for 5-4 International Hockey League victory in front of 6,085 in the Delta Center.

The Gulls have been outscored 8-2 in the second period during the past three games, two of them losses.

“Again in the second period, we had a mental lapse,” Gulls Coach Don Waddell said. “That is the third game in a row that has happened to us.”

After splitting a four-game road trip, the Gulls (28-17-4, 60 points) begin a three-game home stand at the San Diego Sports Arena at 7:05 tonight at 7:05 against Muskegon alone in second place in the IHL West, two points ahead of Peoria, which did not play Thursday. Fourth-place Salt Lake improved to 21-25-5, 47 points.

Len Hachborn opened the scoring with his 21st goal of the season at 6:56. Dmitri Kvartalnov knocked in his league-leading 39th goal at 14:35 to give the Gulls a 2-0 lead for the third game in a row. On the power play, Hachborn picked up his league-high 48th assist.

Salt Lake’s Darryl Olsen made it a 2-1 game at 17:06, and Kevin Wortman tied it at 5:17 of the second period.

After the Gulls got back on top on a shot by Larry Floyd at 6:15, the Eagles got two goals--from Shawn Heaphy and Richard Zemlak--in one 29-second span with less than eight minutes left in the second period.

Ray Whitney assisted on the Gulls’ third goal to extend his points scoring streak to seven games. Darcy Norton failed to score, ending his eight-game streak.

Salt Lake held a slight shot advantage, 32-29, as goalie Warren Sharples improved his record to 7-13-1. Bruce Hoffort fell to 8-6-2 for the Gulls.

Despite the loss, the Gulls have won eight of their last 11.

“We didn’t play badly,” Waddell said. “But we had an opportunity to put this one away in the second period.”