Falcons Run Out of Come-from-Behind Magic

February 27, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


ANCHORAGE – Trying to overcome a late one-goal deficit for the second straight evening against the Anchorage Aces, the Fresno Falcons could not duplicate their last-minute game-tying efforts from the night before as they fell to the Aces, 5-4, on Wednesday at Sullivan Arena.

Despite some early pressure from the Falcons it was the Aces that drew first blood. Kevin McNeill scored off a rebound at 4:33 of the first to give his club a 1-0 lead. Anchorage would extend its lead off another rebound goal. This time they were on the power play when Fresno netminder Mark Gowan made a blocker save that ended up right on the stick of the second leading goal scorer in league history, Paul Williams, who made it a 2-0 contest at 11:46.

Fresno cut into the Aces' 2-0 lead to begin the second when a puck caromed off the body of Jordan Landry past Anchorage goaltender Christian Soucy for his third of the year just 1:28 into the frame. The Aces responded quickly when Jason Modopoulos sent home his second of the season at 4:40, only to be answered by the Falcons' Kris Porter with his team-leading 25th at 5:56, keeping the game a one-goal contest, 3-2 in favor of the Aces. Fresno captain Jason Weaver scored a rare short-handed goal with his club two men down, but the Aces re-grabbed a 4-3 advantage while still skating five-on-three when Dean Larson one-timed a loose puck past Gowan at 15:23.

Landry tied the game again at four just 2:09 into the third period to register the first two-goal game of his young career after taking a perfect feed cross-ice to the far post from Brad Both. Yet the Aces would once again move in front, this time for good. After a face-off at center ice, Kimbi Daniels took advantage of Falcons defenseman Kirk DeWaele, who lost an edge scrambling for a loose puck. Off the ensuing break-away, Daniels scored his 16th of the season unassisted at 11:22 for the final 5-4 margin.

The loss to Anchorage was Fresno's first this year at Sullivan Arena in seven meetings, dropping the club to 29-20-5 overall with 63 points. They trail the third-place San Diego Gulls by six points in the standings.

The Falcons continue their current 11-game road trip with three in a row over the weekend against the Idaho Steelheads in Boise. All three radio broadcasts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday will begin at 5:50 p.m. PST on 103.1 FM, The Mountain Cat, with the Mail Boxes, Etc. Pre-game Show. Fresno does not play at home until they welcome the Bakersfield Condors to Selland Arena on March 14.



ECHL Stories from February 27, 2003


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