Fast Start Leads Falcons to Victory
March 12, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Falcons scored twice in the game's first 1:23 on their way to building a 3-0 lead and held on down the stretch as they completed a season-high six-game home stand by defeating the Phoenix RaodRunners last night 3-2 at Save Mart Center.
Fraser Clair scored Fresno's fastest goal of the season to start a game when he fired a clean face-off win from Shawn Mather past Phoenix goaltender Mike Mole just 29 seconds into the first period. Mather then added to the Falcons' lead at 1:23 with a power play goal from Clair and Luke Curtin. The tally helped Mather tie J.F. Plourde for the team lead in both goals (25) and power play goals (12). Curtin's assist extended his team season-high scoring streak to 12 straight games (4g-15a) dating back to Feb. 11.
Still leading 2-0 mid-way through the second, Rob McFeeters swept in his third goal in four games after returning from a 10-game stint on injured reserve to stake Fresno to a 3-0 advantage at 9:49 of the middle period. The visitors quickly rallied, though, to put a scare into the Falcons. Dean Tiltgen scored on the power play at 12:09 before Joe Dusbabek chipped in a rebound at 15:43 and Fresno's lead was cut to one.
The teams played a scoreless third period as the Falcons held on for the win. The RoadRunners were able to pull Mole in favor of an extra attacker over the final 1:30 or so. They kept the puck deep in the Fresno zone for much of the remaining time but never seriously threatened with a final great scoring chance against Fresno goaltender Brett Jaeger, who closed the door for the 3-2 victory.
The win lifts the Falcons to 35-11-11 with 81 points, keeping them 11 points ahead of the second-place Long Beach Ice Dogs atop the Pacific Division. Fresno closed its longest home stand of the season with a record of 4-1-1.
The team now travels to San Diego for its final regular season tilt against the Gulls tonight at 5 p.m. at the ipayOne Center. The game can be heard live beginning straight up at 5 p.m. on 1550 Sporting News Radio. Fans may also view the game online courtesy of B2 Networks, which can be accessed via the Falcons home page at www.fresnofalcons.com.
ECHL Stories from March 12, 2006
- Falcons Defeated in Shootout - Fresno Falcons
- Alaska takes rubber match from Idaho, 4-1 - Alaska Aces
- Steelheads Held In Check, Fall to Aces, 4-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Royals Blanked By Johnstown, 1-0 - Reading Royals
- Cunningham Rescues Gulls In Shootout, 2-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Lynx get shootout point against Ice Pilots - Augusta Lynx
- Checkers win 4-3 over Greenville - Charlotte Checkers
- Gladiators Come Back, Beat Stingrays, 4-3 in OT - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Titans pelted by Storm, 4-3 - Trenton Devils
- San Diego Looks To Take Down The First-Place Falcons - San Diego Gulls
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Fast Start Leads Falcons to Victory - Fresno Falcons
- Snowden and McMahon returned - Greenville Grrrowl
- Reaching Into a Bag Of Tricks - Stockton Thunder
- Royals Defeat Dayton, 3-1 - Reading Royals
- Checkers lose to Gwinnett for second straight night 6-3 - Charlotte Checkers
- Aces rally past Steelheads, 3-1 - Alaska Aces
- Aces' Late Flurry Downs Steelheads, 3-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Monych Hat Trick Does In Condors - Bakersfield Condors
- Ice Dogs Beat Rivals, Down Gulls 3-2 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Las Vegas rolls a three - Victoria Salmon Kings
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