Victory over Salt Lake Sends Gulls Back into Second Place

The Gulls were hoping to do two things Friday: Win a game and clinch a berth in the International Hockey League playoffs.

With three goals in second period, the Gulls got the victory, 3-1, over the Salt Lake Golden Eagles in front of 7,180 at the San Diego Sports Arena.

But they will have to pack their champagne bottles and postpone the playoff celebration until after tonight’s game in Salt Lake City, if then.

Because Phoenix defeated Peoria on Friday, 7-3, the Gulls are still one point shy of mathematically qualifying for the first round of the playoffs.

But that’s OK. Clinching a berth in the Western Division is all but inevitable for the Gulls, who have 13 games to pick up that one point.

Instead, with Peoria losing, the Gulls (39-23-7, 85 points) took sole possession of second place in the West. The Gulls don’t appear intent on merely making the playoffs; they’re battling Peoria (37-21-9, 83 points) for home-ice advantage. With Friday’s victory, the Gulls are 21-9-3 at the Sports Arena.

A victory, an overtime loss for the Gulls or a loss by Phoenix tonight will make it official.

“Clinching would have been very nice but it was even bigger to see Phoenix (25-36-7, last in the West) beat Peoria,” Gull Coach Don Waddell said. “I’d like to see Phoenix beat Peoria (tonight), too.

“If we win a couple games, we clinch. But I don’t even know if the guys realize that as much as I realize it. It’ll be more emotional for the guys who were here last year.”

The players who participated in the Gulls’ 1990-91 collapse--during which they won only 13 off 44 games after Jan. 1 and lost what appeared to be a firm grip on the playoffs--remember last season well.

“We thought we were there in the first half; it was a disappointing second half,” said winger Larry Floyd, the Gulls’ most valuable player last year. “It’s excusable for an expansion team, but you have to take it a step further the next year.

“It’ll be nice to finally get there and possibly go a long way. I haven’t been in the playoffs in four or five years and I don’t know how many seasons I have left.”

The Gulls outshot Salt Lake, 34-24, and helped goalie Rick Knickle, the IHL’s winningest goalie, improve to 26-10-3. All of the scoring came in the second period. Keith Gretzky started it 1:05 into the period, flipping in a rebound of Ron Duguay’s shot against Jason Muzzatti (20-12-5), who had a 5-1-1 record against the Gulls.

Andrei Kvartalnov got his stick in front of Eagle defenseman Darren Stolk to make it 2-0 as both dove for rebound of Floyd’s shot. Then Darcy Norton punched in a bouncing puck in front of the crease. Ray Whitney got his second assist on the play. Rich Chernomaz scored with 3:09 left for Phoenix. Salt Lake is 28-34-8, 64 points.

Gulls Notes

Fred Comrie, who became the Gulls’ fourth owner in the past year, said Friday his hopes of signing Eric Lindros are waning, but--with or without Lindros--he is intent upon packing the Sports Arena. “I don’t think it looks very good at this stage,” said Comrie, who has offered Lindros around $20,000 per game for the rest of this season plus $2 million for next year. “I’m not getting much response. I don’t think he’ll play anywhere. The offer is still there.” Comrie took over the club Monday with only 15 games left on the 1991-92 schedule, but said he won’t ride out the season and start making changes in the summer. Said Comrie, “We’re going to be very aggressive. We want big attendance.” Comrie said he has purchased two full-page newspaper ads and 150 TV commercial spots to promote next weekend’s two-game series with Kalamazoo. . . . Gull goalie Bruce Hoffort served a one-game suspension Friday for throwing his stick after a 4-3 shootout loss at Kansas City Feb. 22. In Hoffort’s place, the Gulls activated Hotel Del Coronado tennis pro Scooter Henson. Henson has never seen any ice time with the Gulls, though he has been activated three times since getting cut in training camp.