Blades Strike Quickly, Beat Gulls

The Gulls learned Tuesday that 23 seconds is just enough time to lose to the International Hockey League’s top team.

It took the Kansas City Blades that long to score the deciding goals in a 3-2 victory over the Gulls in front of 3,742 at Kemper Arena.

The Blades (42-14-2, 86 points), moved 19 points ahead of the second-place Gulls (31-19-5, 67 points) in the West Division.

With the game tied, 1-1, in the third period, Sandis Ozolinch scored his first goal of the season on a shot from the blue line. Pat McLeod scored from the slot 23 seconds later, which stunned the Gulls and goalie Bruce Hoffort (10-8-2).

Both Gulls’ goals came from center Len Hachborn in the third period. The first goal tied the game and his final goal made it 3-2.

Arturs Irbe, the league’s top goalie, shut down the Gulls in he 13 minutes 36 seconds. Irbe stopped 21 of 23 shots to improve his goals-against average to 2.59. Hoffort stopped 21 of 24 shots.

“We had some chances to score early in the game, and if we do it’s all different,” Gulls Coach Don Waddell said. “Kansas City is a much better team at protecting a lead than they are at coming from behind.

“We played really well and it was a good, solid hockey game from start to finish. If we split (in Game 2 of the series tonight) we’ll be in good shape.”

Gulls Notes

The Gulls signed defenseman Steve Shaunessy to a 25-game contract. Shaunessy, 6 feet 3 and 205 pounds, was obtained from Cincinnati of the East Coast Hockey League. Gull Coach Don Waddell has been seeking a big, tough defenseman. Shaunessy has picked up 20 penalty minutes in three games so far. He also has filled in for defenseman Dave Korol, who is out four to six weeks with an injured knee.