Falcons Skate Past Everblades, 4-1

Published on January 18, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - For the second time in a week, the Fresno Falcons defeated the Florida Everblades 4-1 at Save Mart Center. Four different Falcons scored goals and goaltender Brett Jaeger made 39 saves, including 18 in the third period as Fresno was protecting a one-goal lead, to help the club duplicate its 4-1 winning effort from Jan. 10.

After a scoreless first, the visitors drew first blood on the power play. Phil Aucoin powered a slapshot past Jaeger from the left circle at 7:36 of the second, the only one of 40 shots on the evening that eluded the Fresno netminder. The Falcons did not trail for long. Defenseman Cory Murphy went coast-to-coast before deking past Florida goaltender Phil Osaer at 8:56 for his 10th of the year unassisted. Derek Krestanovich then gave Fresno a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes when he beat Osaer with a wrist shot from the left circle into the upper right hand corner at 18:17 for his ninth of the season.

Jaeger took over in the third before his teammates gave him a couple of insurance goals in the final three minutes. The National Conference All-Star stopped all 18 shots he faced during the final period, including a series of three saves that culminated with an improbable diving effort back to his right to deny the Everblades' Bogdan Rudenko a goal that would have tied the game at two mid-way through the frame. At 17:01 John Wroblewski notched his 10th of the season with Fresno on the power play, which was followed by Rob McFeeters' fifth of the campaign 45 seconds later to seal the win.

The victory lifts the Falcons to a record of 21-6-8 and 50 points in the team's 35th game of the year, keeping the club on track to reach the 100-point mark for the first time in its 11-year professional history. Fresno leads the Pacific Division by 10 points over the second-place Long Beach Ice Dogs.

The Falcons now hit the road to play their final three games before the ECHL All-Star Break. They will take on the Idaho Steelheads in Boise on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Friday and Saturday's contests may be heard live on 1550 Sporting News Radio beginning at 5:45 p.m. Pacific with the FutureTek Pre-game Show. Sunday's game begins at 3 p.m. Pacific and will also be carried on 1550 SNR. Fans may also view all three games online courtesy of B2 Networks, which can be accessed via the Falcons home page at www.fresnofalcons.com.

1st Period Summary: None.

2nd Period Summary: 1, FLA, Aucoin 11 (Hartlieb, Bergin), 7:36 (pp). 2, FRE, Murphy 10 (unassisted), 8:56. 3, FRE, Krestanovich 9 (Plourde, Beaulieu), 18:17.

3rd Period Summary: 4, FRE, Wroblewski 10 (Muench, Murphy), 17:01 (pp). 5, FRE, McFeeters 5 (Krestanovich, Weiman), 17:46.

Goals by Period Team 1 2 3 Tot FLA 0 1 0 1 FRE 0 2 2 4

Shots by Period Team 1 2 3 Tot FLA 7 15 18 40 FRE 10 14 7 31

Saves FLA - Osaer (27-31) FRE - Jaeger (39-40)

Power Play Results FLA - 1 for 3 FRE - 1 for 4

Three Stars of the Game 1. Jaeger - FRE 2. Krestanovich - FRE 3. Murphy - FRE

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ECHL Stories from January 18, 2006


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