Falcons Escape with 4-3 Shootout Victory
April 1, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Falcons used goals from three different players and 23 saves from goaltender Brett Jaeger to defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 4-3 in a shootout at Save Mart Center. The win gives the Pacific Division regular season champions a new team-record 95 points, besting the 94-point mark established by the club during the 2000-2001 campaign when they played in the West Coast Hockey League.
Fresno's journey to a record-setting evening got off to a rocky start when Phoenix scored twice mid-way through the first period on a five-on-three power play and the ensuing five-on-four. Jake Riddle lit the lamp at 10:09 followed by Dean Tiltgen 46 seconds later to put the Falcons in a 2-0 hole. Derek Krestanovich cut the visitors' lead in half when he fired a wrist shot past RoadRunners goaltender Ryan Cyr at 16:08, and Fresno trailed by one despite having out-shot Phoenix 17-5 through the opening 20 minutes.
The Falcons tied the game in the second on a delayed penalty. With goaltender Brett Jaeger on the bench in favor of an extra attacker, Shawn Mather found defenseman P.O. Beaulieu in the high slot, who ripped a slapshot past Cyr at 13:48.
Tied at two entering the third, Fresno took its first lead of the game off a rebound. Vince Macri's bid from between the circles was stopped, but Dustin VanBallegooie banged in the loose puck at 10:15. Phoenix would not go away, though, despite having gone winless over its last 11 entering the game. Tiltgen was sprung with speed through the neutral zone, split a pair of Falcons d-men, and finished past Jaeger at 12:24 to eventually send the game to overtime.
After neither team scored in OT, Jaeger stopped four of five RoadRunners in the shootout. Fraser Clair and J.F. Plourde converted past Cyr for Fresno, delivering the 4-3 win in the team's league-high 25th overtime/shootout game of the year.
The victory was the Falcons' season-high eighth in a row at home and brings their overall record to 41-13-13. Fresno is now chasing the single-season club record of 44 wins set by the 2000-2001 team.
The Falcons conclude a four-game home stand tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Save Mart Center against the Utah Grizzlies. The first 1,000 kids 12 & younger will receive a Falcons t-shirt bearing the "A" and #19 of Fresno assistant captain Shawn Mather courtesy of Allstate Roofing, CBS 47, and KISS Country.
Individual tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets and Save Mart Center's box office with prices ranging from $8 - $23. 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).
ECHL Stories from April 1, 2006
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- Condors Soar Past RoadRunners 3-1 - Phoenix RoadRunners
- Steelheads Comeback Ends In 3-2 Overtime Loss To Gulls - Idaho Steelheads
- Idaho Can't Fool Gulls In OT, As San Diego Wins 3-2 - San Diego Gulls
- Fresno Falcons Hand Grizzlies Fourth Straight Loss, 5-2 - Utah Grizzlies
- 'Blades announce dates for first two home playoff games - Florida Everblades
- Bombers fired up in 4-2 victory over Royals - Dayton Bombers
- 'Blades fall in OT; but still clinch first-round playoff bye - Florida Everblades
- Late game magic eludes Titans in 2-1 shootout loss to Storm - Trenton Devils
- Checkers king Lynx 3-1 - Augusta Lynx
- Gladiators Beat Stingrays, 4-3; Clinch American Conference and South Division - Atlanta Gladiators
- Lee goes back to Bridgeport - Trenton Devils
- San Diego Looks To Extend Home Winning Streak To Six Games - San Diego Gulls
- Another Pair Of College Player Signed; Askew Activated - San Diego Gulls
- Royals Sign Forwards Jamie Chamberlain and Kevin Saurette - Reading Royals
- ECHL Today - ECHL
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- Aces grab point in 4-3 OT loss to Victoria - Alaska Aces
- Four of a Kind for Victoria - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Ice Dogs Again Dropped By Steelheads - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Falcons Escape with 4-3 Shootout Victory - Fresno Falcons
- Checkers defeated 7-3 by South Carolina - Charlotte Checkers
- Condors take Second Straight Game from Grizzlies, 3-2 - Utah Grizzlies
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