Truelson's Power Play Tally Proves Game-winner

Published on January 17, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


FRESNO, Calif. – Defenseman Kevin Truelson's power play goal early in the third period stood up as the game-winner on Friday as the Fresno Falcons defeated the San Diego Gulls at Save Mart Center, 4-2, in front of 5,385.

San Diego's Mark Pederson scored twice in the opening frame, sandwiched around an unassisted tally from Fresno's Adam Stefishen to give the Gulls a 2-1 lead heading into the second period.

The Falcons' penalty kill was tested four times in the middle period but held the league's fifth ranked power play off the board to keep themselves within one. Fresno's Kris Porter and Michael Kiesman then combined to dig out a puck off the forecheck, springing Kiesman toward the Gulls' goal where he beat goaltender David Burleigh for the game-tying goal at 16:15.

Tied at two entering the third, Fresno failed to capitalize on a power play to open the period but received a second chance minutes later. Mike Mathers, playing in his first game since Feb. 22, 2003, following shoulder surgery, fed Truelson in the high slot, who then beat Burleigh to the blocker side for his seventh goal of the year at 5:58.

The Gulls, especially the line of Pederson, Sylvain Deschatelets and Greg Barber, who combined for all six their team's points on the night, created several chances down the stretch in search of the equalizer, but Falcons goaltender Dave Marlin kept the visitors at bay in his first appearance in a Fresno uniform. Mathers sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with less than a minute remaining, bringing his club-record goal total to 144 in now his eighth season with the Falcons.

The victory snapped a four-game winless slide for Fresno and marked their first triumph over the Gulls in three tries this season. The team is now 11-21-4 with 26 points, still sixth in the Pacific Division.

The Falcons next host the Idaho Steelheads tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in the fourth game of a five-game homestand. The first 2,000 kids under the age of 14 will receive a Falcons Growth Chart featuring Truelson, the lone Fresno representative at the 2004 ECHL All-Star Game next week.

Tickets for tomorrow'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 17, 2004


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