Kvartalnovs Unite to Lead Gulls to Win

Playing at what Coach Don Waddell said could be their highest level of the season, the Gulls ended a five-game road trip with a 7-4 International Hockey League victory Friday night over Ft. Wayne in front of 7,446 at Allen County Memorial Coliseum.

The Gulls (33-19-5, 71 points), second in the West Division, completed their tour of West-leading Kansas City, Salt Lake, Indianapolis and East-leading Ft. Wayne with a 4-1 record, and improved to 17-11-2 away from home.

“We might be playing our best hockey of the season right now,” Waddell said.

Dmitri Kvartalnov, the IHL’s leading scorer, and his brother Andrei, who makes his Sports Arena debut Sunday when the Gulls host Phoenix, combined for three goals.

The Komets took a 2-1 lead before the Kvartalnovs struck three times to put the Gulls ahead, 4-2, after two periods. Dmitri scored his 45th and 46th goals of the season and Andrei scored his third goal in five games.

Also scoring for the Gulls were Steve Martinson, Robbie Nichols, Derek Mayer and Ray Whitney. Nichols’ shorthanded goal was his fifth of the season. Len Hachborn, with two assists, extended his scoring streak to 11 games.

Ft. Wayne (38-15-5), which lost at home for the fourth time this season, scored three of its four goals on the power play.

“Even strength we were a much better team then they were,” Waddell said.

The Komets outshot the Gulls, 36-29. Gull goalie Rick Knickle stopped 32 of 36 shots for his 21st victory. He is 8-0-1 in his last nine games.