Fresno Rings in 2006 By Ringing Up Phoenix 4-1

by Andrew Nordmeier
Published on January 2, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Phoenix RoadRunners


The Phoenix Roadrunners started off 2006 the same way they ended 2005 with another loss to the Fresno Falcons. Peter Fregoe scored twice and Jean-Francois Plourde picked up two assists as Fresno (16-4-8) beat Phoenix 4-1 Sunday night at America West Arena.

The Roadrunners (9-18-2) may have lost more than their fifth straight game. At 9:31 of the middle period, Jason Deskins was leveled coming across the Fresno blue line by Falcons' defenseman Cory Murphy's elbow. The hit was vicious and Murphy put his elbow out as he lined up Deskins' head for a violent impact. Deskins laid on the ice for a few minutes before sitting up and skating off under his own power. He didn't return and neither did Murphy as he was given a major penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct. A league suspension is sure to follow.

Deskins was taken off on a stretcher between the second and third periods and taken to a local hospital for further examination. Deskins has already missed time this season with a concussion and a separated shoulder. Initial reports suggested that Deskins didn't know where he was when he was taken to the hospital.

It wasn't the first time Murphy did this as he laid on the smack down on Shawn Snider with a first-period elbow that went uncalled by referee Travis Smith.

"You said it. It was cheap," Phoenix Head Coach Ron Filion said.

After Murphy laid out Deskins, Phoenix defenseman Taylor Christie took exception and jumped on Murphy earning himself an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Phoenix was supposed to be on a five-minute major power play but Christie's penalty took two minutes off of that. Dusty Demaniuk was already in the box for an earlier minor infraction and Fresno wound up with a power play.

Fregoe scored his second goal of the night after taking a cross-ice pass from Plourde and tapping it past Chouinard at 10:23 to make it 2-0 with his 11th goal of the season and the second of the night.

After the goal was scored, Roadrunner defenseman Jake Riddle ran his mouth at the referee and was assessed a two-minute unsportsmanlike penalty and a 10-minute misconduct. That put Fresno back on the power play and the Falcons cashed in again.

Derek Krestanovich beat Chouinard on a wraparound goal at 11:34 on the power play to put Fresno up by three. Phoenix got one back when Ben Knopp's shot beat Fresno goaltender Jamie Holden at 18:27 for Phoenix's lone goal of the night. Mark Wires and Miguel Lafleche picked up the assists.

Phoenix held a hefty shot advantage of 28-13 through two periods but finished with a 30-28 edge for the game after getting outshot 17-2 in the third period.

Fregoe started the scoring with his 10th of the year at the 54-second mark. He found the rebound of Plourde's shot and shoveled through the pile of players in front of Roadrunners' goaltender Mathieu Chouinard.

Any chance of a Phoenix rally went by the boards and straight into the penalty box as the Roadrunners took five penalties in the third period and gave Fresno three two-man advantages. Roadrunners defenseman Brent Henley took a five-minute major and game misconduct for drilling a Falcon with an elbow at 11:52 of the period.

"Tonight, guys were undisciplined in the second period and things started going from there," Filion said, "Guys keep finding ways to lose."

The Phoenix penalty kill took the weekend off against Fresno as the Falcons finished 8-of-16 with the man advantage in the two-game set. Fresno finished 3-of-8 tonight and 5-of-8 last night. Phoenix didn't connect in five power play chances.

"If we just keep games five-on-five we have a chance to win a lot of games," Filion said, "Our power play has the puck moving well and pucks are getting on net but we don't seem to be finding the lucky bounce on to our blade but these are all excuses."

The Roadrunners go from playing one division leader to another as they tangle with the Alaska Aces for the first time Thursday night at America West Arena. The Roadrunners head to Las Vegas Friday night before hosting lowly Stockton next Sunday.

Three Stars

3. Holden-FRE Stopped 29 of 30 Phoenix shots in the win.

2. Plourde-FRE Goal and two assists

1. Fregoe-FRE Two goals and an assist

Notes: Phoenix allowed the opening goal for the 10th straight time...They have scored first just eight times this season, the league's lowest total; Stockton is next with nine times but played four fewer games than the Roadrunners...Phoenix has lost an ECHL-high 103 man games to injury...Phoenix is 0-16-0 when trailing after two periods and Fresno is 10-0-5 when leading after 40 minutes...Phoenix has fallen behind 3-0 in each of its last three games...Phoenix has the worst goal differential in the league with a -36 (75-111); Victoria (-35) and Pensacola (-34) are second and third...Phoenix also has the fewest shots in the league with 764 and the worst shot differential at -278 (764-1,042)...Attendance was 3,184.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from January 2, 2006


The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central