Jaeger Stands on His Head to Earn a Point
October 17, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
Bakersfield, Calif. - Rookie goaltender Brett Jaeger made 52 saves, including 18 in the third period, to almost single-handedly lead the Fresno Falcons into a shootout before falling to the Bakersfield Condors in a pre-season game at Centennial Garden on Saturday, 4-3.
In a rough and tumble first period featuring 51 minutes in penalties between the two teams, Bakersfield out-shot Fresno, 16-8. Jaeger kept the Condors in check, though, except for one blemish when Brad Mehalko scored unassisted off a drive from the left circle at 13:02.
Fresno began the second period on the power play and quickly converted :46 seconds into the frame off a Dustin VanBallegooie slapshot. They would capture their first lead at 5:17 while skating with a two-man advantage when Chris Paradise found Dan Tessier for a back-door finish. The Condors then responded and knotted the game at two after a blocked shot in their own zone sprung Kevin St. Jacques and Brett Lutes on a two-on-one rush with the latter finding the back of the net at 8:57.
The Falcons forged ahead again eight minutes into the third after Wes Rypien jammed the puck past Condors netminder Yutaka Fukufuji to complete an odd-man rush. Similar to their first pre-season meeting on Friday when Fresno tied the game late in regulation before knocking off Bakersfield in overtime, last night the Condors forced extra time with 1:10 remaining in the final period. Skating with their goaltender pulled, Vlad Serov found St. Jacques at the far post, who then re-directed the puck past Jaeger for the game-tying goal.
Jaeger was the backbone of a Fresno penalty kill unit that fought off all 10 short-handed situations it faced through 65 minutes of hockey, shining especially in the scoreless four-on-four overtime during which Bakersfield out-shot the Falcons, 9-0. Ultimately, though, it was St. Jacques that ended the hero as he was the only player to score in the ensuing shootout, giving the Condors the victory.
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.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from October 17, 2004
- Gulls Fall To Long Beach, 5-3 - San Diego Gulls
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Mississippi Trims Roster By Four - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Jaeger Stands on His Head to Earn a Point - Fresno Falcons
- Checkers fall to Augusta 4-3 in final preseason game - Charlotte Checkers
- Kettles Returns to IceGators - Louisiana IceGators
- Storm Make Training Camp Roster Moves - Toledo Walleye
- Condors Get Redemption, 4-3 - Bakersfield Condors
- Grrrowl forward traded to Pride - Greenville Grrrowl
- Sin City Sweep: Bullies Slip Past Wranglers 3-2 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Fresno Falcons Stories
