Falcons Surprise Chiefs, 5-4
Published on January 2, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - The Fresno Falcons overcame three one-goal deficits and scored three times in the third period, which included Curtis Sheptak's game-winner with 1:19 remaining in regulation, as they defeated the Johnstown Chiefs in front of 2,090 at War Memorial Arena.
Jan Sochor set a new Falcons team record by scoring just 13 seconds into the hockey game off a feed from Sam Ftorek to give Fresno a 1-0 lead on the game's first shift. Johnstown responded, though, with a short-handed goal from Matt Reid at 8:14 and an even strength goal off a clean break-away from Chad Cavanagh at 16:28. But on their final shift of the period, Fresno tied the game at two when Jason Weaver beat Johnstown goaltender David Currie with a wrist shot through a screen only 19 seconds before the buzzer.
In the second, Johnstown scored the period's only goal on the power play giving them their second lead of the game, 3-2. P.L. Courchesne made a great individual effort to keep the puck in the zone on the blueline, and his teammates eventually worked it around to Brent Kelly, who scored his 10th of the year at 12:05.
The Falcons drew even at three 4:20 into the third when Sam Ftorek banged home a rebound for his fifth of the season, only to have Johnstown pull in front for the third time of the game on a goal from Jean Desrochers at 6:27 as he skated out of the left corner and beat Falcons netminder Brett Jaeger with a backhand. Fresno got back off the deck and tied the contest at four after Shaun Sutter crashed the net and chipped in a rebound for his team-leading 12th of the season at 9:11. With under two minutes to play in regulation, David Brisson then fed Sheptak at the point, who blasted a one-timer top-shelf for the game winner at 18:41 to deliver the 5-4, come-from-behind victory to the Falcons.
The win moves Fresno back to .500 at 13-13-3 and gives them a mark of 3-2-1 on their current seven-game road trip.
The Falcons conclude the trip tomorrow when they face a re-match with the Wheeling Nailers, to whom Fresno fell 4-3 on New Year's Eve. All of the live play-by-play action can be heard on 103.1 FM, The Mountain Cat, beginning at 1:50 p.m. Pacific time.
The team's next home game is Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 7 p.m. when the Rivermen visit Save Mart Center. Tickets are now on sale for as low as $8 per seat and may be purchased directly at Save Mart Center's box office and all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 485-TIXS (8497) or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
ECHL Stories from January 2, 2005
- Galvin Injured New Year's Dayâ¦Markusen Activated - Reading Royals
- Gulls Fall To Long Beach, 5-3 - San Diego Gulls
- Salmon Kings lose their third in a row to the Ice Dogs - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Condors Edge Gulls in Shootout - Bakersfield Condors
- Sea Wolves Hit Seventh Heaven Downing IceGators 7-5 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Gators outscored by Wolves 7-5 - Louisiana IceGators
- Hodson Leads Fresno to 3-2 Shootout Win - Fresno Falcons
- Three Third Period Goals By Chiefs Sink Titans 5-2 - Trenton Devils
- Bullies Silence Storm 3-0 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- San Diego Attempts To Keep Climbing Up The Standings - San Diego Gulls
- David Turon Recalled To St. John's - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Bridgeport Trio Back - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Salmon Kings drop second straight to Long Beach - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Condors Brawl with Wranglers in Lopsided Loss - Bakersfield Condors
- Checkers offense stymied in 3-0 shutout loss to Florida - Charlotte Checkers
- Falcons Surprise Chiefs, 5-4 - Fresno Falcons
- Rivermen Get After Idaho Again, Winning 4-1 on New Year's Day - Peoria Rivermen
- Sea Wolves Stun Ice Pilots 2-1 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
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