Road Trip Comes to an End
Published on March 11, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
The Fresno Falcons played the final four games of the longest road trip in franchise history last week and came up winless in all four contests to finish the 11-game trek with a record of 3-6-2.
The final leg of the trip began in Bakersfield on Tuesday where the Falcons and Condors entered the third period tied at two before the visitors succumbed, 5-2, despite outshooting their hosts, 17-8, during the final 20 minutes. Fresno then headed to San Diego for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday against the Gulls. Friday's contest ended in a shootout where the Falcons fell, 3-2, before the Gulls prevailed on Saturday, 4-1, behind a hat trick from their leading scorer, Mark Pederson. The week ended back in Bakersfield. Another tight contest with Fresno trailing, 2-1, entering the third, the Falcons never found the equalizer as the Condors won, 3-1, with the help of an empty-net goal with under 10 seconds to play.
The winless week gives the fourth-place Falcons a record of 30-24-7 and 67 points.
POST-SEASON A CERTAINTY
Despite their rough week, the Falcons did clinch the league's fourth and final playoff spot on Saturday night. A 5-1 victory by the Anchorage Aces over the Long Beach Ice Dogs eliminated the then fifth-place Ice Dogs from playoff contention. Were the post-season to begin today, the defending Taylor Cup Champions would begin their title defense in a Finals re-match from last season against the first-place Idaho Steelheads. The first round is tentatively slated to begin on Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12, at the arena of the higher seed.
FIVE-GAME HOME STAND KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND
After three weeks away from home, the Falcons make their return to Selland Arena with three games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The weekend begins a stretch of five in a row at Selland, featuring one game against each of the other teams in the WCHL. Friday and Saturday's games are against the Condors and the Ice Dogs, respectively, with both contests getting underway at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday Fresno welcomes the Steelheads to town for a 5 p.m. start. Tickets are still available for all three games at the Selland box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.ticketmaster.com.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
After taking today and Tuesday off, the Falcons will resume practice on Wednesday at Gateway Ice Center. Practice on Wednesday and Thursday will be held at 10 a.m. each morning followed by pre-game morning skates on Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. at Selland Arena.
ECHL Stories from March 11, 2003
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- Sea Wolves Slip Past RiverBlades, 3-2 - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Outmanned RiverBlades Fall Short - Arkansas RiverBlades
- Ice Dogs Make Deadline Deals - Long Beach Ice Dogs
- Cyclones Fall to Chiefs - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Goaltender Brian Finley Assigned To Storm - Toledo Walleye
- Aces Sweep WCHL Weekly Honors - Alaska Aces
- Falcons Add Two at the Deadline - Fresno Falcons
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Stingrays Loan Schneekloth to Grand Rapids - South Carolina Stingrays
- Steelheads Sign Matt Oates - Idaho Steelheads
- Lynx To Attend Local Youth Hockey Practices - Augusta Lynx
- Road Trip Comes to an End - Fresno Falcons
- SCOR to Have Bud Light Draft Specials at Tonight's 'Behind the Bench' - Dayton Bombers
- All-American OSU Placekicker Nugent to Appear at Bombers Game March 16 - Dayton Bombers
- Playoff Races Heat Up - ECHL
- Nailers at your Service - Wheeling Nailers
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.
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