Five Different Goal Scorers Lead Falcons to 5-1 Win

March 18, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno Falcons used goals from five different players, including a short handed goal off the stick of Brett Hammond, to defeat the Long Beach Ice Dogs at Save Mart Center, 5-1.

Fresno jumped on top of the Ice Dogs early but had little to show for their efforts until mid-way through the first period. Shawn Mather finally dumped in a rebound at 11:59 on the power play with Dustin VanBallegooie and Luke Curtin providing the assists. Curtin's helper marked the 15th straight game that he has registered at least one point dating back to Feb. 11, moving him within one game of tying the Falcons' all-time team record for longest point scoring streak. Less than a minute later, Rob McFeeters jammed home a rebound at 12:58, and Fresno led 2-0 having out-shot Long Beach 17-3 to that point.

The Ice Dogs came out buzzing in the second, reeling off the period's first seven shots before they were awarded a power play. Instead of allowing Long Beach back into the game, though, Hammond stole the puck from an opposing defenseman, looped behind the net, and roofed a wrap-around for his first short handed goal of the year to give Fresno a 3-0 lead. Derek Krestanovich made it a 4-0 game with his 12th of the season at 9:30. The Ice Dogs finally solved Falcons netminder Jamie Holden at 16:20 of the middle period when David Cousineau finished from point blank range off a pretty pass from the end boards.

Leading 4-1 into the third, Fresno completed the scoring at 7:26 with a power play goal from John Wroblewski. It was his 20th of the year, helping him join J.F. Plourde, Mather, Curtin, and Fraser Clair as the fifth Falcon to reach the 20-goal plateau this season.

The victory moves Fresno to 36-11-13 on the season and gives the club an 11-point lead in the Pacific Division ahead of the second-place Ice Dogs. The Falcons still have not lost to a division opponent in regulation this year as they ran their mark against the Pacific to 19-0-6.

Fresno and Long Beach play each other for the third straight game tomorrow at 7 p.m. at Save Mart Center. The Falcons will again wear green St. Patrick's Day jerseys, which will be auctioned off after the game to benefit Community Food Bank. The first 2,000 fans at the arena will receive a Fraser Clair bobblehead doll courtesy of Citizen's Business Bank, CBS 47, and Y101.

Individual tickets are on sale now for tomorrow's game at all Ticketmaster outlets and Save Mart Center's box office with prices ranging from $8 - $23. For complete ticket information and an arena map of Save Mart Center, visit www.fresnofalcons.com/singletickets.html, or contact the Falcons front office directly at (559) 485-PUCK (7825).



ECHL Stories from March 18, 2006


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