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Falcons Wake Up In Third To Down Gulls, 5-1

March 10, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
San Diego Gulls News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Falcons scored five goals in the third period, as they came to life to down the San Diego Gulls, 5-1 Friday night at the Save Mart Center.

After playing well for two periods, the Gulls (27-25-5) took a 1-0 lead into the final frame. But that's when the flood gates opened. The Falcons (34-11-11) notched four goals over a 5:21 span to turn a tight match into a blowout.

The win kept Fresno undefeated against Pacific Division foes in 22 games (18-0-4) this season, including a 4-0-1 streak against San Diego. The Gulls, meanwhile, had won eight of its previous 10 contests and three straight on the road. But they ran out off gas in the final 20 minutes Friday en route to their first loss in 22 tries when leading after two periods (20-1-1).

San Diego also allowed five scores in one period for the first time all season.

In a potential ECHL playoff preview, the long-time rivals played a hard-hitting, physical match. This game almost went into the third period scoreless before San Diego's rookie forward Erik Johnson finally broke the ice with 3:16 remaining in the second. On the play, Grady Moore took a slap shot from the right point. Falcons goalie Brett Jaeger made the save but mishandled the puck, and Johnson spun around to flick the puck into the net to make it 1-0 Gulls. In the process, Johnson picked up his first professional goal and second point after notching an assist Wednesday in his pro debut.

Fraser Clair tied it at 1-1 for the home team just 2:17 into the third. That's how the match stayed until midway through the frame, when Fresno officially woke up. With 9:47 left, defenseman Shawn Weiman - San Diego goalie Tyler Weiman's older cousin - gave the Falcons their first lead of the night, an advantage they would never relinquish.

J.F. Plourde, Luke Curtin and John Wroblewski added three more quick tallies, and suddenly the scoreboard read 5-1 Fresno with 4:26 remaining. Plourde finished with three points (1g, 2a), and three Falcons tallied multi-point games. Luke and Wroblewski each notched a goal and an assist.

Now, the two clubs get to square off again this weekend - Sunday in San Diego - after the Gulls travel to Long Beach on Saturday.

Notes: San Diego has killed 117 of 129 penalties in its last 23 games (90.7 percent)... The Gulls are 1-2-2 against Fresno this season and are winless in their last seven games at Save Mart Center (0-6-1)... J.F. Soucy and Shaun Fisher were acquired Thursday from Phoenix in exchange for Patrick Levesque and future considerations. Soucy made his Gulls debut Friday, while Fisher is set to join the club sometime next week... Kelly Askew is scheduled to return to the lineup Saturday after a long absence... Tom Lawson was re-called by Lowell of the American Hockey League... Jared Saron signed as the emergency back-up goaltender. Aaron McKenzie can't be activated until March 28...

The Gulls play in Long Beach at 7 p.m. Saturday before hosting the Falcons on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. It will be another Kids Night, and "Skate with the Gulls' will be held immediately following the game. The first 2,000 kids (12-and-under) in attendance also will receive a Gulls lunch box, courtesy of Chili's and SeaWorld. All games can be heard on KLSD 1360AM and www.sandiegogulls.com with Chris Ello calling the play-by-play. Most games can also be viewed on the Gulls' web site, courtesy of B2 Networks. Click the B2 Networks (Watch the Game Live) link on the home page for a list of the upcoming viewable games. To view pictures from this season, visit www.zerodogentertainment.com.



ECHL Stories from March 10, 2006


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