Falcons Grab Stranglehold on Series
April 19, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
FRESNO, Calif. â The Fresno Falcons defeated the Idaho Steelheads for the third straight hockey game to take a commanding three games to one lead in their best-of-seven, first round Taylor Cup Playoffs series following a 3-1 victory at Selland Arena on Friday night.
Colin Embley scored his third goal of the series 4:06 into the game to stake Fresno to a 1-0 lead. Brad Both followed with his first of the post-season and the eventual game-winner after Glen Gulutzan and Kris Porter plugged away on the forecheck to set him up in the slot at 10:56 of the first. Adam Copeland then slid a rebound past Mark Gowan as the Steelheads cut into the Falcons' lead with a power play goal at 13:20 of the opening period.
Fresno gave themselves some cushion with a power play goal of their own 7:30 into the middle frame. Scott Borders re-directed a shot by Kevin Haupt that eluded Blair Allison for a 3-1 advantage. A minute later, though, Cory Murphy received a major penalty and an automatic game misconduct for elbowing Petr Suchanek, giving Idaho a full five minutes on the man advantage. The league's best power play unit during the regular season was unsuccessful, and the Falcons kept their two-goal lead into the third.
Neither team had many chances during a scoreless final period as Fresno skated away to the 3-1 victory. After dropping Game One, 3-2, in Idaho last Friday, the Falcons have won Games Two, Three and Four without allowing the Steelheads a single even-strength goal.
Fresno has a chance to close out Idaho during Game Five on Sunday, Apr. 20, at 5 p.m., with the winner of the series due to face the San Diego Gulls, who defeated the Bakersfield Condors earlier tonight four games to one in the league's other first round match-up to advance to the Taylor Cup Finals. Tickets are still available for Sunday's Game Five at the Selland Arena box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.ticketmaster.com.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from April 19, 2003
- Falcons Aim to Clinch Finals Berth - Fresno Falcons
- Statement from Men O'War on Hockey's Future in Lexington - Burlington
- Falcons Grab Stranglehold on Series - Fresno Falcons
- Taylor Cup Finals Dates Announced - San Diego Gulls
- Gulls Advance To Taylor Cup Finals With 3-1 Win - San Diego Gulls
- Gulls Eliminate Condors - Bakersfield Condors
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Fresno Falcons Stories
