Weary Gulls Lose Third in 3 Nights

The NHL condemns it, the NBA would not condone it, but the International Hockey League apparently doesn’t have a problem with permitting its teams to play three games in three days.

It would be better for the Gulls if the IHL changed its opinion. A 6-2 defeat at Milwaukee Sunday marked the second time this season the Gulls endured three road games in three days, losing all six.

Coach Don Waddell, who took a tired team into the Delta Center, said the Gulls would need some early goals and a lot of luck to win Sunday. Ray Whitney gave them a 1-0 lead with his 28th goal of the year in the first period, but a crowd of 8,195 saw the Admirals answer with six goals before the Gulls could score again.

“We had nothing from the start,” said Waddell. “I don’t like to use that as an excuse, but the recent schedule and travel finally caught up with us. You hope you get an early lead and a hot goaltender, then you try and sit on it.”

Sunday’s game was also the Gulls’ sixth in eight days. They return home at 3 p.m. today just in time for their most important series of the season: two games against the defending Turner Cup champion Peoria Rivermen at the San Diego Sports Arena. The first game is Tuesday.

Peoria has also played three games in three nights, but the Rivermen (35-18-8) won Sunday and moved into a second-place tie with the Gulls in the West.

The Gulls are now 36-21-6. Peoria has played two fewer games than San Diego. The 1-0 lead Whitney gave the Gulls Sunday stood one minute, 16 seconds before Carl Valimont tied it, 1-1. Gull Robbie Nichols capped the scoring with his 25th goal with 2:57 left.