Shootouts Rule the Week
Published on December 23, 2002 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
The Fresno Falcons played three games last week without any of the outcomes reaching a conclusion through 60 minutes of hockey. After losing a shootout to the Anchorage Aces on Tuesday, Fresno rebounded with a pair of shootout victories against the Long Beach Ice Dogs over the weekend.
On Tuesday against Anchorage at Selland Arena the Falcons failed to hold a 3-1 lead midway through the third period. When they fell in the tie-breaker, 4-3, insult was added to injury when they dropped into a last place tie with the Aces.
Fresno's stay in the WCHL cellar was short-lived, though, as they picked up four points in two shootout wins on Friday and Saturday at Long Beach. Friday's victory was a case of almost letting another one slip away, but after giving up a 3-0 lead through the first period, Glen Gulutzan's goal as the Falcons' eighth shooter helped seal the 5-4 win.
On Saturday it was Fresno's turn to come-from-behind. Colin Embley and Cory Murphy each scored to help overcome a 2-0 deficit and send the game to the club's third straight shootout. Again it was Gulutzan providing the game-winner in the tie-breaker, this time as the Falcons' sixth shooter. Mark Gowan was in net for the 3-2 win, picking up his first shootout victory of the season.
The 2-0-1 week has Fresno positioned in fifth place in the standings with a record of 10-10-3 and 23 points. They trail the Ice Dogs by three points for the league's final playoff spot but have four games in hand.
ALL THEY WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
...is a victory against the Bakersfield Condors, and the Falcons will have two chances this week to try to snap a seven-game winless streak against their Highway 99 rivals. On Thursday Fresno travels to Centennial Garden to play the Condors, against whom they are 0-6-1 this season. The game can be heard live on 103.1 FM, The Mountain Cat, beginning at 6:50 p.m. with the Mail Boxes, Etc. Pre-game Show.
The Falcons and Condors then play the back half of a home-and-home series on Friday at Selland Arena before the Ice Dogs make a visit to Fresno on Saturday. The first 1,500 fans at the arena on Friday will receive a Falcons long-sleeve t-shirt courtesy of Port of Subs, and Falcons calendar posters compliments of Budweiser and ValPrint will treat the first 5,000 fans on Saturday. Both games begin at 7:30 p.m. with tickets still available for each at the Selland box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.ticketmaster.com.
PRACTICE SCHEDULE
The Falcons will not practice on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. They hit the ice again on Thursday at 11:15 a.m. at Gateway Ice Center for a pre-game skate in advance of their tilt with the Condors that evening.
ECHL Stories from December 23, 2002
- Everblades on a Tear - ECHL
- Coast Lines - Northeast Division - ECHL
- Coast Lines - Southwest Division - ECHL
- Coast Lines - Northwest Division - ECHL
- Coast Lines - Southeast Division - ECHL
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Jacques Re-Called To Saint John - Toledo Walleye
- Bombers Take Four of Possible Six Points - Dayton Bombers
- Storm Tracks - Toledo Walleye
- Shootouts Rule the Week - Fresno Falcons
- Russell Called up by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Wheeling Nailers
- Peoria's Mathieu Chouinard Named East Coast Hockey League Goalie of the Week - ECHL
- Charlotte's Inman Named InGlasCo East Coast Hockey League Player of the Week - ECHL
- San Diego Extends Winning Streak To Seven - San Diego Gulls
- Blades Streak Hits 10 after Weekend Sweep - Florida Everblades
- Hodson Prepares to Play for Team Canada - Greensboro Generals
- Komets Sweep Weekend Games - Fort Wayne Komets
- 'Gades Get Busy after Christmas - Richmond Renegades
- Mississippi Tied for First in the Southwest - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Aces Endure Miserable Weekend - Alaska Aces
- Generals Intelligence Report - Greensboro Generals
- Nailers Week in Review - Wheeling Nailers
- Kingfish Complete Northern Swing - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Boardwalk Bullies Week in Review - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Men O' War Weekly - Burlington
- Roy Suspended by the Grrrowl - Greenville Grrrowl
- Ice Pilots Weekly - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Pride Weekly - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- Kalamazoo Wings Week in Review - Kalamazoo Wings
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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