Falcons lose to Alaska, 3-2

April 4, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


Nine-game Home Winning Streak Comes to an End

FRESNO, Calif. - Two goals from Pete Fregoe were not enough as the Fresno Falcons fell to the Alaska Aces tonight, 3-2, at Save Mart Center. The loss was Fresno's first at home since March 5, ending a season-high nine-game home winning streak.

After a scoreless first period, Alaska's Troy Riddle scored from right on the doorstep at 7:49 of the second. Less than a minute later, though, Fregoe took a pass on the forehand from Jason Weaver and as he moved across the top of the crease then whipped around on the backhand to beat Aces goaltender Matt Underhill five-hole at 8:37. Later in the period, just after the Falcons had great pressure in front of Underhill, Alaska headed back-up ice on an odd man rush. Alex Leavitt, who now leads the ECHL in scoring having notched two assists tonight, went cross-ice for Riddle, who somehow managed to jam the puck through Falcons goaltender Jeff Van Nynatten at 17:43.

The Aces added an insurance goal at 12:43 of the third when Matt Shasby fired a slapshot past Van Nynatten to up his team's lead to 3-1. On the power play in the final minute with the goaltender pulled in favor of an extra attacker, Fregoe swept in a rebound for his second of the evening to draw the Falcons within one. But with only 16.8 seconds remaining in regulation, there was not enough time for Fresno to mount another attack and time expired quickly following the ensuing face-off.

The loss drops the Falcons to 42-14-14 on the year and to 0-2-3 against the Aces, which lead the ECHL with now 109 points in the standings. Van Nynatten, playing his first game as a pro out of Niagara University, made 28 saves in the losing cause.

Fresno gets one final crack at Alaska when the Aces return to Save Mart Center on Friday at 7 p.m. with the first 2,000 fans receiving a Matt Thomas wind-up walker. 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 4, 2006


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