Plourde Tricks the Bombers

Published on March 3, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - J.F. Plourde registered a natural hat trick, scoring all three of his team's goals in succession, and Jamie Holden made 37 saves as the Fresno Falcons defeated the Dayton Bombers, 3-1, at Save Mart Center.

The visitors led off the scoring in the final minute of the first period. Dayton took advantage of two Falcons miscues that led to a clean breakaway for Jeff Szwez, who tucked the puck past Holden on the forehand at 19:15. It was the only shot that eluded the Fresno goaltender, who made 37 saves to follow-up a 53-save performance during his last start in a 4-1 win over the Bakersfield Condors on Monday.

Fresno tied the game in the second on the power play when Plourde batted the puck out of mid-air just inside the far post from along the goal line at 6:38. Late in the middle period on the Falcons' next power play, Plourde scored nearly an identical goal when he again batted the puck out of mid-air inside the far post at 18:07 to give Fresno a 2-1 lead heading to the third. Luke Curtin had assists on both of the goals, giving the team's leading scorer 50 assists on the season.

Clinging to the 2-1 advantage throughout the third period, Plourde completed the natural hat trick and provided his club with some insurance at 16:24. Shawn Mather won a battle out of the right wing corner and fed his linemate, who snapped home his 24th of the season to tie Mather for the team goal-scoring lead. Plourde's two power play goals also helped him overtake Mather for the team power play goal lead with 12 on the season.

The win moves the Falcons to 32-11-10 with 74 points, giving them an eight-point lead atop the Pacific Division ahead of the idle second-place Long Beach Ice Dogs.

Fresno returns to the ice on Sunday, when they host the Las Vegas Wranglers at 5 p.m. at Save Mart Center. Kids 12 and under are free, and the first 2,000 fans will receive a free Cory Murphy poster courtesy of Supercuts, Dumont Printing, Food-to-You, WB 59, and Mega 97.9.

Individual tickets for the game are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets and Save Mart Center's box office with prices ranging from $8 - $22. 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).

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