Roadrunners Cut Down Gulls

The Gulls’ 25-game unbeaten string finally came to an end Saturday.

The Phoenix Roadrunners handed the Gulls their first loss in regulation, 6-2, in an IHL game in front of 6,346 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Gulls fell to 22-1-3 (47 points), and Phoenix posted its 10th victory in its last 13 games to improve to 12-12-1 (25 points).

The Roadrunners led 3-2 with 1:30 left in third period, when they scored three times. Guy Leveque had two goals and an assist.

The Gulls outshot Phoenix, 47-24, but Roadrunner goaltender David Goverde made 45 saves to improve to 11-6.

Gull goaltender Rick Knickle, who the night before posted his fourth shutout this season in a 2-0 victory over Atlanta, fell to 15-1-2.

“It was inevitable,” Knickle said. “You have to give credit to their goaltender. He played a great game. But, hey, we went 26 games before losing. You know it’s going to happen sometime. I guess you always hope it’s going to be later than sooner.”

The Gulls took 1-0 lead 1:01 into the second period on John Anderson 17th goal of the season. Len Hachborn set up the goal with a centering pass. The score moved Anderson into a four-way tie for the IHL goal-scoring lead with 17.

The Gulls, who had allowed only three power-play goals in their past 16 games, allowed two to Phoenix before the second period was over. Robert Lange and Brad Tiley scored to give Phoenix 2-1 lead after two periods.

Leveque scored his first goal on a breakaway 3:54 into the period to make it 3-1 before Daniel Shank answered with his 13th goal of the season at 17:53.

With the Gulls pressing for a tying score, Leveque picked up a loose puck at center ice and beat Knickle high on a breakaway. Tim Breslin and Ed Kastelic then scored in the final minute.