Falcons Enter Playoffs on a Winning Note

April 9, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Falcons used three power play goals to defeat the Long Beach Ice Dogs, 3-1, in their regular season finale at Save Mart Center, snapping a three-game winless slide as the team readies itself for the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The win gives the organization its first 100-point campaign and helped set a new ECHL standard for divisional play. The Falcons ended the campaign with a 22-0-7 record against fellow Pacific Division opponents, becoming the first team in ECHL history to go an entire season without a regulation loss inside their division.

Long Beach opened the scoring with the first period's only goal. Ash Goldie stole an errant outlet pass and fired a slapshot from the between the circles past Fresno goaltender Jamie Holden for an unassisted goal at 15:20.

The Falcons began the second period with the man advantage and quickly tied the game. Dustin VanBallegooie's low blast from the point was stopped by Ice Dogs goaltender Greg Hewitt, but Fraser Clair roofed the rebound for his 25th of the year just 42 seconds into the middle frame. Neither team scored the rest of the second, and the clubs headed to the third tied at one.

Fresno forged ahead with another power play goal. Pete Fregoe fed Shawn Weiman at the point, whose shot against the grain along the ice eluded Hewitt's out-stretched right pad at 5:23 of the third. Down a man in the final two minutes but still needing the equalizer, Long Beach pulled Hewitt to skate five-on-five. John Wroblewksi found P.O. Beaulieu through the neutral zone, and the rookie d-man put the game on ice with an empty-net, power play goal with just 22 seconds remaining.

The Falcons finished the best regular season in their 11-year professional history with a record of 43-15-14 and 100 points. As the number one seed out of the Pacific Division, they will face the fourth-place San Diego Gulls in the first round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The best-of-seven series begins on Tuesday and Wednesday, Apr. 11 and 12, with Games One and Two at Save Mart Center at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets and Save Mart Center's box office with prices ranging from $10 - $25. For complete playoff ticket information, please visit www.fresnofalcons.com or contact the Falcons front office directly at (559) 485-PUCK (7825).



ECHL Stories from April 9, 2006


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