Falcons Win in Overtime, 4-3

October 16, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


Fresno, Calif. - Mike Kiesman tied the game at three with :39 seconds remaining in regulation, which set the stage for Charles Simard's game-winning slapshot from the blueline 1:50 into overtime, as the Fresno Falcons defeated the Bakersfield Condors, 4-3, in a pre-season game at Save Mart Center.

The Condors' Mike Hofstrand opened the scoring on the power play 16:51 into a first period in which Bakersfield out-shot Fresno, 15-7.

The Falcons pulled even with a power play goal of their own six minutes into the second when Chris Paradise sent a laser over the shoulder of Bakersfield netminder Sean Fields from the base of the right circle. Fresno quickly took a 2-1 lead just over a minute later when Simard fed Jordan Landry to finish an odd-man rush at 7:23. The Condors would grab the lead back with a pair of goals later in the middle period. Lars Peder Nagel beat Falcons goaltender Mike Betz with a shot through a screen from the point at 10:48 before Bakersfield captain Paul Rosebush converted on a break-away at 14:30.

The Condors nearly kept their 3-2 advantage intact until the final buzzer. Following a time-out called by Fresno player-assistant Curtis Sheptak, who was running the bench while head coach Greg Spenrath scouted the game from the stands, the Falcons pulled Betz in favor of an extra attacker. After a shot through traffic in the Bakersfield zone, Kiesman corralled the puck in the low slot and fed a backhand past the sprawled goaltender for the equalizer.

Simard's winner in overtime came from the left point and was set-up by rookie Derek Krestanovich.

The same two teams face one another again tomorrow at Bakersfield's Centennial Garden at 7 p.m. in both teams' final pre-season tune-up.

Fresno opens the regular season on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. at Save Mart Center against the Las Vegas Wranglers. Single-game tickets for all 36 regular season home games at Save Mart Center are now on sale for as low as $8 per seat. Tickets 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 October 16, 2004


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