Falcons Storm from Behind for Victory
February 2, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
FRESNO, Calif. â Kris Porter scored twice, including the game-winner, and goaltender Mark Gowan stopped all 17 shots he faced in relief of Terry Friesen to help lead the Fresno Falcons to a come-from-behind, 4-3 victory against the Long Beach Ice Dogs on Saturday at Selland Arena in front of a crowd of 5,422.
Long Beach, which had already won the first two games of a three-game set in Fresno this week, struck first 3:16 into the contest after Denis Ladouceur beat Friesen with a slapshot with the teams skating four on four. The Ice Dogs then seemed well on their way to the sweep after a goal by Jamie O' Leary with 16 seconds left in the first and another tally off the stick of Robb Wismer just 26 seconds into the second for a 3-0 lead.
After head coach Blaine Moore lifted Friesen in favor of Gowan, Glen Gulutzan finally got the Falcons on the board with a power play goal at 4:33 of the second. That effort was followed by the first of Porter's goals at 17:35 of the middle frame to draw Fresno within 3-2 as the teams headed to the third.
Early in the final period, Drew Schoneck wristed a shot on Long Beach goaltender Mike Buzak, who was unable to nab the rebound out of mid-air before Cory Murphy batted the puck behind him for the game-tying goal at 3:27. With time having just expired on a Fresno power play, Gulutzan slid a pass across to Porter on the far post, who ushered home the game-winner and his 20th of the year with seven minutes to play.
Fresno skated with an emergency player in their line-up for the fourth straight game as they called upon former Falcons defenseman Kory Mullin to provide some relief for an injury-depleted roster.
The victory lifts the Falcons' record to 23-15-5 and 51 points. They picked up ground on the second-place San Diego Gulls and Bakersfield Condors, who both lost in shootouts Saturday, and now stand three points out of second.
Fresno's current six-game home stand continues when the San Diego Gulls head to Selland for a pair of games next Tuesday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for both contests at the Selland box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.ticketmaster.com.
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