Falcons Still Unable to Solve Aces

Published on April 7, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - In a game that was a one-goal contest into the final minute, the Fresno Falcons were defeated 6-3 by the Alaska Aces at Save Mart Center. Alaska clinched the West Division regular season title with the victory, as well as the ECHL's Brabham Cup, given to the team with the most points during the regular season.

The Falcons drew first blood 1:01 into the game when Shawn Weiman floated a wrist shot past Alaska goaltender Matt Underhill from the right point. Just more than a minute later, though, the Aces' Barrett Heisten sprung Chris Minard on a clean break-away and last season's leading goal scorer in the ECHL quickly tied the game at 2:04. Alaska took a one-goal lead at 4:54 of the first after Olivier Filion scored from right on the doorstep and led 2-1 after its first two shots on goal. The Falcons bounced back with the man advantage when Derek Krestanovich fed Shawn Mather for the latter's 30th of the year at 18:07, and the teams headed to the second period tied at two.

Alaska forged back in front mid-way through the second off a Matt Shasby rebound at 9:44. But again Fresno answered on the power play. Dustin VanBallegooie fired the puck from the top of the left circle through a screen set by Fraser Clair, tying the game at three at 17:07.

Still tied mid-way through the third, the Aces had time for one more rush on their fifth power play of the game that had come up empty to that point. Mike Scott carried the puck over the blue line and sent a rocket past Falcons goaltender Jamie Holden at 9:46 with just one second remaining on the man advantage to give Alaska its third one-goal lead of the game. Trailing 4-3 into the final minute of regulation, Fresno pulled Holden in favor of an extra attacker but quickly lost possession of the puck inside the Aces' zone. Justin Maiser went back the other way and scored on the empty net at 19:18. Alaska's Mike Lee then added a final tally at 19:40 with the clubs back at five-on-five for the 6-3 final score.

The loss drops the Falcons to 42-15-14 on the year and to 0-3-3 against the Aces this season.

Fresno will try to snap a two-game losing slide as it plays the final game of the regular season tomorrow against the Long Beach Ice Dogs at 7 p.m. at Save Mart Center. The first 2,500 fans will receive a Pacific Division Champion t-shirt courtesy of Alpha Designs, CBS 47, and Mega 97.9.

Individual tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets and Save Mart Center's box office with prices ranging from $8 - $23. 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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ECHL Stories from April 7, 2006


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