Special Teams Doom Falcons

February 15, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, Calif. - The Idaho Steelheads converted on their special teams opportunities when it counted, while the Fresno Falcons went 0 for 9 on the power play. Idaho defeated Fresno 3-1 at Save Mart Center behind two goals from defenseman Tyler Kindle and 32 saves from Matt Yeats.

The Steelheads' only even strength goal of the game came 3:15 into the first. Seconds after he prevented a Falcon from jamming the puck over the goal line at one end, Kindle finished at the other end off a pass from Paul Caponigri to give the visitors a 1-0 edge.

Still leading 1-0 into the second, the Steelheads extended their margin skating with a two-man advantage. Fresno goaltender Jamie Holden made a spectacular save to deny one Idaho player from point blank range, but his diving effort to stop D'Arcy McConvey's bid off the rebound was a split-second too late as the Steelheads captain made it a 2-0 game at 3:56. J.F. Plourde answered back for the Falcons at 9:12 when he raced up the left wing, drove the net, and threaded a backhand top shelf past goaltender Matt Yeats. Idaho restored their two-goal advantage with another five-on-three goal late in the period. Kindle blasted home his second of the game at 18:09, and the Steelheads led 3-1 through 40 minutes.

In the third, Fresno skated on five power plays, including two extended five-on-threes each lasting at least a minute, but Yeats and the Idaho penalty killers shutdown the Falcons power play on their way to closing out the 3-1 victory.

The loss ended Fresno's four-game overall winning streak and marked the team's first regulation setback at home since Dec. 4, halting a seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1) at Save Mart Center. The club is now 29-9-10 with 68 points atop the Pacific Division. The Falcons' first-place lead stands at seven points after the second-place Long Beach Ice Dogs moved a bit closer in the standings with their sixth win in a row tonight at Phoenix.

Fresno next takes the ice on Friday, Feb. 17, when they travel to Las Vegas to face the Wranglers. The game can be heard live on 1550 Sporting News Radio with the FutureTek Pre-game Show beginning at 6:45 p.m. Fans may also view the game online courtesy of B2 Networks, which can be accessed via the Falcons home page at www.fresnofalcons.com.

1st Period Summary: 1, ID, Kindle 5 (Caponigri, Bararuk), 3:15.

2nd Period Summary: 2, ID, McConvey 22 (Bararuk, Flichel), 3:56 (pp). 3, FRE, Plourde 20 (Hammond, Curtin), 9:12. 4, ID, Kindle 6 (Flichel, Bembridge), 18:09 (pp).

3rd Period Summary: None.



ECHL Stories from February 15, 2006


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.

OurSports Central