Fresno Falcons Weekly Update

Published on February 17, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


LAST WEEK'S RECORD: 1-0-1 OVERALL RECORD: 13-30-6, 32 pts.

Feb. 13 vs. Alaska, 4-3 Win – The Falcons overcame a 2-0 first period deficit behind goals less than three minutes apart from Mike Sandbeck and Tapio Sammalkangas to enter the second tied at two. Michael Kiesman then scored on the power play in the middle period, and Drew Schoneck added an empty-net, short-handed tally for the final difference in the game's last minute, as Fresno snapped a three-game losing streak.

Feb. 16 vs. Alaska, 5-4 Overtime Loss – Again the Falcons played from behind, trailing three times by a single goal. Michael Kiesman's 11th of the season with under five minutes to play in regulation tied the game at four, helping Fresno reach overtime for the seventh time this season. Alaska claimed victory just :30 seconds into the extra session when the Aces' Kimbi Daniels banked a centering pass off the skate of a Falcons defenseman that eluded goaltender Mike Brusseau for the overtime winner.

THIS WEEK'S UPCOMING GAMES

Friday, Feb. 20 vs. Las Vegas, 7 p.m. – The Falcons host the Wranglers with the first 1,000 fans receiving a free Falcons t-shirt courtesy of Tony Roma' s. In addition, all fans in attendance will receive Mardi Gras beads in recognition of the annual New Orleans celebration taking place over the weekend.

Saturday, Feb. 21 @ San Diego, 7 p.m. – Fresno battles the Pacific Division-leading Gulls. (Live radio broadcast on KAAT 103.1 FM at 6:50 p.m.).

Sunday, Feb. 22 vs. San Diego – THIS GAME HAS BEEN RE-SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 29 AT 7 P.M. SEASON TICKETS PRINTED FOR FEB. 22ND WILL BE USED FOR ADMISSION TO THE GAME ON MARCH 29.

NOTES

· Sammalkangas' goal on Friday was his first as a Falcon.

· Boris Protsenko is the only Falcon averaging at least one point per game with 25 (10g-15a) in 25 games played.

· Goaltender Nolan Schaefer, who began the season assigned to the Falcons by the San Jose Sharks, played two more games with the American Hockey League's Cleveland Barons last week. He made 35 saves in a 4-2 Barons victory against the San Antonio Rampage on Feb. 12 before stopping 43 pucks in a 5-3 loss at the Utah Grizzlies on Feb. 14. The rookie is now 8-3-1 with a 2.41 goals against average and 92.4% save percentage in a Cleveland uniform.

· Fresno is 18th (16.3%) on the power play this season and 23rd (81.0%) on the penalty kill.

· The Falcons begin the week in last place in the Pacific Division, six points behind the sixth-place Long Beach Ice Dogs and 11 points behind the fifth-place Bakersfield Condors. They are currently 28 points out of the division's fourth and final playoff position.

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ECHL Stories from February 17, 2004


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