Quick Start Doesn't Hold Up

Published on January 25, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, Calif. – Despite scoring :23 seconds into the game and leading 3-1 through 12:27 of the first period, the Fresno Falcons could not prevent the Las Vegas Wranglers from storming from behind by the time the opening frame was finished as they went on to fall, 6-3, on Sunday in front of a crowd of 4,212 at Save Mart Center.

Brad Mehalko struck with a one-timer on the game's first shift, which was followed by Blair Clarance's eighth of the season off a rebound at 3:24 to give Fresno a 2-0 lead. Las Vegas cut the lead in half when Jeff Attard walked around a Falcons defenseman before beating goaltender Mike Brusseau short-handed at 11:23. Unfazed and still on the power play, Fresno re-established their two-goal edge after Scott Borders re-directed a Tapio Sammalkangas wrist shot for his seventh of the season at 12:27.

The Falcons had a chance to add to their lead as they were back on the power play just :40 seconds later. But the Wranglers killed off the opportunity and moments later were back within one after Eric Schneider dumped the puck into an empty net with Brusseau struggling to recover from stopping a bid by Greg Day.

Fresno then self-destructed by taking two ill-advised penalties away from the action. The Wranglers converted on both power play chances – Cam Bristow at 17:58 and Schneider with under six seconds remaining – and never looked back after securing a 4-3 lead through 20 minutes.

Schneider completed a hat trick at 7:35 of the second, and Chris Wheaton added a goal at 8:04 of the third for the final margin.

The Falcons fell to 0-4-0 this year against the Wranglers and remain in seventh place in the Pacific Division with a record of 11-24-5.

Fresno will take tomorrow off before playing its fourth game in five days on Tuesday at Bakersfield. The game can be heard live on KAAT 103.1 FM beginning at 6:50 p.m. with the pre-game show.

They then return home on Friday, Jan. 30, for another tilt against the Condors at 7 p.m. at Save Mart Center. Tickets for Friday's game are still available for as little as $8 and can be purchased at the Save Mart Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, which include select Save Mart Supermarkets, Tower Records, Wherehouse Music and Ritmo Latino locations, charged by phone at 485-TIXS or bought online by clicking the Ticketmaster icon throughout www.fresnofalcons.com.

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ECHL Stories from January 25, 2004


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