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Moreland backstops Falcons to 7th straight win

December 14, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


Fresno, Calif. - Jake Moreland turned aside 44 shots to lead the Fresno Falcons to a 5-2 win over the Victoria Salmon Kings in front of 4,546 fans on Friday at Save Mart Center. The win was Fresno's seventh straight, as the Falcons improved to 13-6-3 on the season.

The Falcons drew first blood 16:45 into the first period with a power-play goal. John Morlang fed Tyler Kindle skating into the Victoria zone, and Kindle snapped a wrist shot past goaltender Billy Thompson to give Fresno a 1-0 lead.

Fresno just beat the first-period buzzer to doubled the lead to 2-0 after 20 minutes of play. Josh Ciocco won a face-off to Kenny Bernard in the Salmon Kings' zone with 2.8 seconds left in the period. Bernard quickly found Oren Eizenman open on the far post, and he stuffed the puck home for his team-leading 11th goal of the season.

Kenny Bernard extended the Falcons lead to 3-0 with a shorthanded tally 2:04 into the second period. Ciocco fed Bernard into the Victoria zone, and he snapped a shot past Thompson for his second of the year.

Brady Leisenring scored his sixth goal of the season, and extended his scoring streak to seven games, at 7:45 to give Fresno a 4-0 lead. Jarrett Konkle centered the puck for Leisenring at the top of the crease, and he beat Thompson off the backhand for the goal.

Victoria got on the board with a power-play tally 5:26 into the third period. Moreland made the save on Ryan Wade's shot from the blue line, but Ash Goldie gathered in the rebound in the left-wing circle and beat Moreland with a quick shot back to the net for his 15th tally of the season.

The Salmon Kings pulled within two with another power-play goal just 2:10 later. Jordan Krestanovich took a pass from Patrick Coulombe in the slot, and rifled a shot past Moreland to make it 4-2.

Konkle restored the Falcons lead to three with a power-play goal at 18:11, stuffing a rebound past Thompson on the near post.

Moreland was busy over the final two periods, stopping 19 shots in the second period and 20 in the third. He picked up his fifth straight win, finishing the night with 44 saves.

Fresno returns home on Sunday, once against hosting the Victoria at special start time of 3:00 p.m. The Falcons welcome special guest Spongebob Squarepants, presented by Comcast Cable and 93.7 KISS Country. All kids are invited to come on the ice during the first intermission for a holiday caroling party. During the game, the Falcons will have several items available the concourse for a silent auction to benefit the American Red Cross Save a Family Campaign. Following the game, fans are invited to join Falcons' players on the ice for a post-game skating session.

Tickets for all Falcons' home games can be purchased at the Save Mart Center Box Office, or through TicketMaster at (559) 485-TIXS or www.ticketmaster.com. All Falcons games air on 790 ESPN Radio, The Deuce, starting with the Port of Subs Pre-Game Show 15 minutes prior to face off.

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