Quick Start Helps Falcons to Shootout Win

Published on December 21, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Fresno Falcons used a three-goal first period to snap a six-game winless streak on the road after defeating the Long Beach Ice Dogs, 5-4 in a shootout, on Friday in front of 2,035 at Long Beach Arena.

Fresno jumped all over the Ice Dogs in the opening frame beginning with an unassisted short-handed goal by Tyler Prosofsky at 4:42. Cory Murphy would follow with his second of the year at 12:44 as did Mike Barrie at 17:33 to give the Falcons a 3-0 lead after the first period.

After generating 13 shots in the first, Fresno mustered just 12 the rest of the way, and the Ice Dogs eventually found their way back into the hockey game. Jamie O'Leary scored with the teams skating four-on-four at 6:36 of the second before Jeff Ewasko brought Long Beach within one off a deflection at 11:44. Kris Porter responded for the Falcons with his team-leading 11th tally of the season on the power play off a pretty feed from Murphy at 14:35. Long Beach answered back less than two minutes later, though, when Jeff Attard put a rebound back by Fresno goaltender Terry Friesen, and Fresno headed to the third clinging to a 4-3 lead.

Former Falcon Mike Kelleher capped off a three-point night with his first goal of the season to tie the game at four at 15:28 of the final frame as the teams were again four-on-four. Fresno had one final chance on the power play with under two minutes to play but failed to convert, sending them to their second consecutive shootout.

In the tie-breaker, each club scored twice after the first seven shooters. The Falcons' eighth shooter, Glen Gulutzan, beat Long Beach goaltender Mike Buzak before Friesen shut the door on Jeff Marshall to seal the victory.

The win is just Fresno's second of the year away from home and snaps a three-game overall winless streak. The club pulled itself out of a last place tie with the Anchorage Aces into sole possession of fifth place at 9-10-3 and 21 points.

Fresno and Long Beach play the finale of this two-game set tomorrow night at Long Beach Arena. The Falcons will then play the Bakersfield Condors on Thursday, Dec. 26, before returning home for two games to finish out the calendar year. They will play the second half of a home-and-home series with Bakersfield on Friday, Dec. 27, and then welcome the Ice Dogs to Selland Arena on Saturday, Dec. 28. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m. with tickets still available at the Selland box office, at all Ticketmaster locations and online at www. ticketmaster.com.

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