Falcons Take Opening Game of Conference Finals

May 9, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


ANCHORAGE - Luke Curtin scored the game-winning goal with about seven minutes remaining in regulation and goaltender Jamie Holden made 32 saves to help lead the Fresno Falcons to a 3-2 series-opening win over the Alaska Aces in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,251 at Sullivan Arena. Fresno leads the best-of-seven National Conference Finals one game to none.

After a scoreless first period during which Holden and Alaska netminder Chris Beckford-Tseu both managed to thwart several good scoring chances, the Aces drew first blood with a rare short handed goal while two men down. Kimbi Daniels took off to the races after the puck skipped over a Falcons d-man manning the point, and the 13th-year veteran converted the break-away at the three minute mark. Fraser Clair responded for the Falcons when he took a pass from Curtin through the left circle and beat Beckford-Tseu with a wrist shot to tie the game at one at 6:44. The Aces forged back in front after Mike Scott's knuckled one-timer fluttered off the cross-bar and right to Olivier Filion, who found the back of a wide-open net at 11:58 just after a Fresno penalty expired. Despite dominating the period with a 16-4 shot advantage, the Aces only led by one heading to the third due to some outstanding work from Holden.

The Falcons tied the game at two at 5:47 of the final period when Scott Kelman beat his man behind the Alaska goal and fed Derek Krestanovich, who slid a backhand five-hole. Fresno then took the lead while skating on a four-on-three power play. Curtin walked to the top of the circles and rifled a slapshot past the glove side of Beckford-Tseu through traffic at 12:54. The Aces pulled Beckford-Tseu in favor of an extra attacker in the waning moments but never found the equalizer as the Falcons took Game One for the third consecutive playoff series.

The win marked Fresno's first win against Alaska after going 0-3-3 against the Brabham Cup winners during the regular season and halted the Aces' string of 51 straight victories, regular season and playoffs combined, when leading after two periods of play.

The teams resume their series for the right to advance to the Kelly Cup Finals on Wednesday at 8:15 PDT at Sullivan Arena. The game can be heard live on 1550 Sporting News Radio beginning with the FutureTek Pre-game Show at 8:00 p.m. PDT Fans may also view the game online courtesy of B2 Networks, which can be accessed via the Falcons home page at www.fresnofalcons.com.

The series then shifts to Save Mart Center for Games Three and Four on Friday and Saturday, May 12 and 13, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are currently on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets and Save Mart Center's box office beginning as low as $14 for Silver Section seats and just $10 for Student Section seats.

If necessary, Game Five would be played on Tuesday, May 16, at Save Mart Center before Games Six and Seven would return to Anchorage on May 19 and 22, respectively.



ECHL Stories from May 9, 2006


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