VanBallegooie Powers Falcons Past Idaho

March 25, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


BOISE, Idaho - On his 23rd birthday, Fresno Falcons All-Star defenseman Dustin VanBallegooie scored two power play goals to lead his club past the Idaho Steelheads, 2-1, at Qwest Arena. Goaltender Jamie Holden contributed 39 saves in the winning effort as Fresno salvaged one victory out of this week's three-game set against the Steelheads in Boise.

After falling behind at least 2-0 in each of their losses during the first two games of the series, Fresno finally drew first blood. VanBallegooie skated to the doorstep and beat Idaho goaltender Steve Silverthorn with a backhand to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead on the power play at 9:42 of the opening period. The Steelheads tied the game with a power play goal of their own at 16:15. Marty Flichel finished a three-on-two rush by teeing up a slapper from just inside the blue line on the only shot that would elude Holden throughout the contest.

Still tied at one through a scoreless second and into the third, Fresno again struck with the extra man. Moments after hitting the post and thinking incorrectly that they had scored the go-ahead goal, the Falcons kept the puck inside the zone as it came to VanBallegooie at the left circle. The second-year d-man then beat Silverthorn five-hole for his 10th of the season.

Fresno weathered three Idaho power plays in the third, including a six-on-four with Silverthorn pulled in the waning moments, and secured the 2-1 victory to break a season-high two-game losing skid and a string of three consecutive losses to the Steelheads. The Falcons finished the game going two-for-four on the power play, while Idaho was one-for-nine.

The win lifts the Falcons to 38-13-13 with 89 points as they move closer to clinching their first division title.

The Falcons now return home and begin a stretch where they will play seven of their final eight games of the regular season at Save Mart Center. Fresno's next game is on Monday, March 27, at 7 p.m. against the Victoria Salmon Kings. The first 2,000 fans will receive a poster of Falcons leading goal scorer J.F. Plourde courtesy of Dumont Printing, Supercuts, WB 59, and MEGA 97.9.

The team is also hosting the Garner Tree Services Tree of Knowledge Book Drive on Monday. Fans are asked to bring books appropriate for first graders through sixth graders, which will be donated to Fresno Covenant Foundation's Tutoring Pals Reading Program.

On Tuesday, March 28, Fresno hosts the Bakersfield Condors at 7 p.m. The game is a Carl's Jr. Two-for-Tuesday with two-for-one coupons available at participating Carl's Jr. restaurants.

Individual tickets are on sale now for both contests at all Ticketmaster outlets and Save Mart Center's box office with prices ranging from $8 - $22. For complete ticket information and an arena map of Save Mart Center, visit www.fresnofalcons.com/singletickets.html, or contact the Falcons front office directly at (559) 485-PUCK (7825).



ECHL Stories from March 25, 2006


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