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Falcons Return to Winning Ways

January 7, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


VICTORIA, British Columbia - One night after having a 10-game unbeaten streak snapped by the Victoria Salmon Kings, the Fresno Falcons got back in the win column by defeating Victoria 4-3 in front of 4,360 at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre on Friday. Four different Falcons scored and goaltender Jamie Holden made 22 saves in the winning effort.

Fresno had a golden chance to strike first when Fraser Clair was awarded a penalty shot at 12:49 of the first period, but he was denied by Salmon Kings goaltender Rob McVicar. Instead, Victoria scored the first goal of the game soon thereafter at 13:25, when Ryan Wade scored an unassisted power play goal. The Falcons tied the game at one with their fifth shorthanded goal of the season at 18:06 of the opening period after Pete Fregoe fed Luke Curtin on a two-on-one for the latter's team-leading 14th goal.

The Salmon Kings again established a one-goal edge on the power play 3:51 into the second period when former Falcon Lanny Gare deflected a shot in from the point. Fresno tied the game at two with an unassisted power play goal from Shawn Mather, who won a face-off to himself and eventually banked in his own rebound off McVicar at 7:18 of the middle frame.

Still tied at two heading to the third, the Falcons took their first lead of the night when J.F. Plourde spun and fired a slapshot from the slot just 1:31 into the period. The goal was Plourde's 14th tally of the season, as well, re-tying him with Curtin for the team goal-scoring lead. John Wroblewski then jammed home an insurance goal at 9:40, which Fresno would need for its final margin of victory.

The Salmon Kings kept battling. A shot from the point that deflected off two bodies, if not more, found its way past Holden and was credited to Jade Galbraith at 13:09 to pull Victoria within a single tally. The Salmon Kings came close to finding the equalizer down the stretch and generated several good chances with McVicar pulled over the final 1:20, but Fresno hung on for the 4-3 win.

The victory avenges Thursday's 5-3 loss to Victoria, the Falcons' first setback in regulation since Dec. 4, and gives Fresno a record of 17-5-8 and 42 points atop the Pacific Division.

The Falcons conclude a six-game road trip and a stretch of 12 of 13 away from home when they face the Salmon Kings for the third game in a row later today. The game may be heard live on 1550 Sporting News Radio beginning at 6:45 p.m. with the FutureTek Pre-game Show.

Fresno will then finally return home to Save Mart Center on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. to 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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