Falcons Let Pair of Third-period Leads Slip Away
December 29, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
PEORIA, Ill. - The Fresno Falcons, attempting to avenge a 3-1 loss to the Peoria Rivermen last night, failed to hold a pair of one-goal leads in the third period before falling 4-3 in overtime off a goal by Peoria's Brian McCullough 1:36 into the extra session at Carver Arena.
As in their clash the evening before, Peoria took a 1-0 lead through the first 20 minutes. Rookie Jake Riddle followed up his two-goal performance from last night by beating Fresno goaltender Brett Jaeger with his third of the year at 7:54.
After getting out-shot 15-6 in the first, the tables turned in the second as the Falcons controlled play, out-gunning the Rivermen 13-6. Sam Ftorek tied the game at one early in the stanza with a blazing slapshot from the top of the right circle for his fourth of the year at :48, and the teams skated to the third even at a goal apiece.
Fresno took its first leads of this two-game set against the Rivermen in the third period, but was unable to hold onto either one-goal advantage. Shaun Sutter re-directed a Derek Krestanovich shot for his 11th of the season at 4:20 to give the Falcons a 2-1 edge, but McCullough responded at 7:55 with his first of two on the night by squeaking a bid five-hole past Jaeger.
With Fresno short-handed late in the game, Dan Tessier then picked the pocket of a Peoria d-man and proceeded to go top-shelf for an unassisted tally at 16:39. This time it only took the Rivermen 16 seconds to re-tie the game as they remained skating five-on-four. Rejean Stringer poked in his first goal in a Peoria sweater off a scramble in the slot to send the game into overtime tied at three.
In the overtime period after an initial chance for Fresno, the Rivermen's Trevor Byrne found McCullough, who spun a wrister through a screen past Jaeger for the game-winner at 1:36 to clinch the 4-3 victory.
The loss was the first game decided in overtime this season for the Falcons after four previous shootout decisions and keeps the club at the .500 mark with a record of 12-12-3 on the year. The one point, though, moves them ahead of the idle Las Vegas Wranglers into sole possession of sixth place in the West Division with 27 points.
The Falcons continue their five-game swing through the ECHL's North Division on Friday when they visit the Wheeling (W. Va.) Nailers. All of the live play-by-play action can be heard on 103.1 FM, The Mountain Cat, beginning at 4:20 p.m. Pacific time with the pre-game show.
The team's next home game is Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m. when the Rivermen return the favor and visit Save Mart Center. Tickets are now on sale for as low as $8 per seat and may be purchased directly at Save Mart Center's box office and all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 485-TIXS (8497) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
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