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Falcons Erase 6-2 Deficit to Defeat Royals in OT, 7-6

December 18, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


READING, Pa. - Defenseman Cory Murphy capped a four-point night (2g-2a) when he scored 48 seconds into overtime to lead the Fresno Falcons to a stirring 7-6 come-from-behind victory against the Reading Royals at the Sovereign Center. The Falcons trailed 6-2 mid-way through the second period before scoring five unanswered goals, including three in a 3:59 span of the third, as they played their fifth consecutive overtime game.

Reading bolted out to a quick 2-0 lead behind goals from Chris Bala at 3:36 and Grant Jacobsen at 7:30. Fresno briefly stole some momentum when Matt Deschamps scored his first goal as a pro at 13:42 of the first, but the Royals re-took their two-goal advantage on the power play at 15:52 to lead 3-1 after 20 minutes.

Reading's Bala and Fresno's Brett Hammond traded goals early in the second before the Royals seemingly put the game away mid-way through the period. Jon Francisco tallied at 8:01 and Mike Kompon scored on the power play at 10:40 to give Reading their largest lead of the game at 6-2.

After failing to convert on their first six power plays of the night, the Falcons finally broke through with a power play goal from Derek Krestanovich to slowly begin their comeback at 15:31 of the second. Still trailing 6-3 at the start of the third, Fresno used special teams to reel in the Royals in under a four minute span. Pete Fregoe scored shorthanded at 3:18 and then on the power play at 6:44, while Bala served a double minor for high-sticking to bring the Falcons within a single goal. With Bala still needing to serve his second minor, Reading took another penalty out of a scrum in the aftermath of Fregoe's second goal. Murphy then scored his first of the night on the ensuing five-on-three just 33 seconds later to tie the game at six and complete the four-goal come-back.

The teams remained all square at six through the final 13 minutes of regulation. In overtime, Luke Curtin broke into the slot and left a drop pass for Murphy, who whistled a wrister past Reading goaltender Cody Rudkowsky for the game-winner at :48.

The Falcons have played a league-high 13 overtime contests through their first 23 games of the season, including five in a row and 10 of their last 13. Murphy's winner notched the team's second win in OT this year and lifted Fresno to 12-4-7 as they remain in first place in the Pacific Division with 31 points.

Fresno concludes a six-game road trip tomorrow when they face a re-match with the Royals at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Catch all the live radio play-by-play action on 1550 Sporting News Radio beginning at 9:45 a.m. with the FutureTek Pre-game Show. Fans may also watch the game on-line courtesy of B2 Networks, which can be accessed via the Falcons' home page at www.fresnofalcons.com. The pay-per-view video webcast costs $6 and requires a high-speed internet connection.

The Falcons then return home to Save Mart Center to take on the Stockton Thunder on Monday, Dec. 26, at 5 p.m. Admission for children ages 12 and under is free, and the first 2,000 fans will receive a Falcons holiday poster. Individual tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets and Save Mart Center's box office with prices ranging from $8 - $22. For complete ticket information and an arena map of Save Mart Center, visit www.fresnofalcons.com/singletickets.html, or contact the Falcons front office directly at (559) 485-PUCK (7825).

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