Falcons' Power Surge Continues in 4-1 Win

Published on January 1, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


PHOENIX - One night after tying a team record with five power play goals, the Fresno Falcons scored another three power play goals this evening to defeat the Phoenix RoadRunners 4-1 in front of 3,184 at America West Arena. Pete Fregoe contributed two goals and an assist while J.F. Plourde picked up a goal and two assists to help lead Fresno to a two-game sweep of Phoenix following last night's 7-3 win.

Falcons goaltender Jamie Holden shined in the first period, keeping the RoadRunners at bay as Fresno was out-shot 13-5 in a scoreless opening 20 minutes. Holden would finish the contest with 29 saves.

Fregoe then dumped in a rebound just 54 seconds into the second period to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Mid-way through the frame with Fresno on the power play, Cory Murphy was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for elbowing. Because of a pair of minor penalties given to Phoenix, though, the RoadRunners did not start skating on the major power play until the Falcons had opened up a 3-0 lead behind two four-on-three power play goals. Plourde found Fregoe back-door at 10:23, and Derek Krestanovich beat Phoenix goaltender Mathieu Chouinard off a wrap-around at 11:34 to give the Falcons a comfy advantage once they were finally forced to kill off Murphy's penalty, which had only two minutes remaining. The 'Runners scored their only goal of the night late in the second at 18:27 when Ben Knopp chipped in a pretty pass from Mark Wires.

The Falcons put the game out of reach early in a chippy third period that saw Fresno skate on five additional power plays. This time it was Fregoe hitting Plourde back-door while the team skated five-on-three at 3:46. The goal was Plourde's 13th of the season, tying him with Luke Curtin for the team goal-scoring lead.

The victory keeps Fresno unbeaten through its last 10 games (6-0-4), as the club has not lost in regulation since Dec. 4. The Falcons also keep rolling on the road, extending a team record road unbeaten streak to 11 in a row (6-0-5). Fresno last lost in regulation away from home on Nov. 8.

The Falcons are now 16-4-8 and open up their largest lead of the season atop the Pacific Division with 40 points, nine ahead of the second-place Long Beach Ice Dogs.

Fresno concludes their current six-game road trip and a stretch of 12 of 13 away from home next week when they travel to face the Victoria Salmon Kings for three games on Jan. 5, 6, and 7.

The Falcons will then finally return home to Save Mart Center on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m. when they take on the Florida Everblades. The game is a Carl's Jr. Two-for-Tuesday, with two-for-one coupons available at participating Carl's Jr. restaurants. Individual tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets and Save Mart Center's box office with prices ranging from $8 - $22. 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).

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