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Falcons Nipped in Overtime

February 16, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, Calif. – A deflected centering pass off the skate of a Fresno Falcons defenseman helped the Alaska Aces to a 5-4 overtime win during a President's Day matinee in front of 4,227 at Save Mart Center.

Alaska led three times throughout the afternoon, beginning with an unassisted goal by Chris Lipsett off a Falcons turnover 3:10 into the hockey game. Fresno tied the contest at 4:24 off Boris Protsenko's 10th of the season and took a 2-1 lead at 7:36 when Mike Sandbeck completed a four-on-three rush with his eighth of the campaign. The Falcons' only lead of the day lasted exactly one minute. Alaska's Denis Ladouceur walked out of the left wing corner completely untouched to tie the game at two at 8:36. On a goal very similar to the one that would later serve as the overtime winner, the Aces then re-took the lead at 11:25 when Keith McCambridge's centering pass hit a player in front and caromed back past Fresno goaltender Mike Brusseau.

The Falcons tied the match once more at three when Riku Rahikainen found himself with a gaping wide open net after a blast by Kevin Truelson elicited a big rebound from goaltender Dan Murphy at 13:21 of the second period. Skating on their only power play of the day and looking for the go ahead goal soon thereafter, Fresno instead gave-up its league-high 12th short-handed goal of the year at 17:13 to Kimbi Daniels, who beat Brusseau with a slapshot from along the right wing.

On their way to out-shooting the Aces, 12-7, in the final period of regulation, the Falcons responded for the third time on the afternoon. Kris Porter won a face-off cleanly to Michael Kiesman, whose shot deflected off a body in front before beating Murphy with less than five minutes to play, tying the game at four.

Fresno found itself in overtime for the fifth time this season before things ended just :30 seconds into the extra session. Daniels worked up the left wing when his centering pass intended for Lipsett glanced off the skate of defenseman Mark Jackson past Brusseau, handing the Aces the two points and a 5-4 victory. The Falcons were looking to win back-to-back games after defeating Alaska on Friday, but settled for the single point to remain unbeaten in their last two. The club is now 13-30-6 with 32 points on the year.

Fresno completes a season-long six-game homestand during their next game on Friday, Feb. 20, when they host the Las Vegas Wranglers. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Falcons t-shirt courtesy of Tony Roma's, while every fan in attendance will receive beads in recognition of Mardi Gras.

Tickets to the game can be purchased at Save Mart Center's Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets, which include select Save Mart Supermarkets, Tower Records, Wherehouse Music and Ritmo Latino locations, charged by phone at 485-TIXS or bought online by clicking the Ticketmaster icon throughout www.fresnofalcons.com.

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