
Falcons Prevail in Roller Coaster Ride
March 4, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
FRESNO, Calif. â The Fresno Falcons both blew a lead in a matter of 20 seconds in the third period and then came-from-behind to defeat the Las Vegas Wranglers at Save Mart Center on Wednesday, 5-4, snapping a three-game losing streak.
Despite having a large edge in shots during the early going, Fresno fell behind, 1-0, when Greg Day finished a two-on-one for Las Vegas at 11:20. The Falcons tied the game with a power play goal off a deflection from Kris Porter at 13:31 of the first before Kory Mullin beat Las Vegas goaltender Dany Sabourin with a drive from the right wing to give Fresno its first lead of the game just :29 seconds into the middle period.
The teams then traded goals as play continued in the second â Wranglers defenseman Mike McBain scored a power play goal at 5:17 and Brian Passmore notched his first as a Falcon at 11:31 â and Fresno carried a 3-2 advantage into the third.
Sabourin kept his team within a goal with a pair of saves from point-blank range early in the final period, which led to McBain finding the back of the net for the second time on the evening at 3:14 to tie the game at three. Cam Bristow then fired a slapper past Fresno goaltender Mike Brusseau after a Falcons turnover in their own zone, and Fresno's one-goal lead turned into a one-goal deficit in a span of just :20 seconds.
Fresno captain Jason Weaver forged the fourth tie of the game when he went top shelf from the left circle past Sabourin for his 15th of the year at 11:21. Tied at four and approaching two minutes remaining in regulation, Scott Borders carried the puck over the Las Vegas blue-line and fed defenseman Drew Schoneck trailing the play. Schoneck forced Sabourin to commit before sliding a pass to a wide-open Jordan Landry behind the Wranglers netminder, who tapped the game-winner into the empty net with 2:07 on the clock.
The 5-4 win was Fresno's first of the year in regulation against the Wranglers and ends a difficult stretch of seven games in nine days on a positive note. The Falcons will bring a record of 17-35-6 into their next game on Sunday during a re-match with Las Vegas at Save Mart Center.
The first 5,000 fans to Sunday's 5 p.m. start will receive a 2003-04 Falcons team photo courtesy of Executech Communications. It is also a Fresno Bee Family Day, with coupons for four Silver Section seats for just $24 available in the Friday and Sunday editions of The Bee or online at www.CentralValley.com.
Regular-priced tickets to the game can be purchased directly 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.
ECHL Stories from March 4, 2004
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