VanBallegooie's Four-point Night Leads the Way Over Utah
Published on April 2, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
FRESNO, Calif. - All-Star defenseman Dustin VanBallegooie scored a goal and added three assists to lead the Fresno Falcons to a 5-2 win over the Utah Grizzlies at Save Mart Center. The win is the team's season-high fifth straight victory overall and ninth in a row at home.
The Falcons opened the scoring on a five-on-three power play 2:44 into the game off Shawn Mather's 29th of the year. Utah tied the contest just after their first power play expired when Colt King knocked in a rebound at 9:46 of the first period. John Wroblewski then answered for Fresno less than two minutes later after he took a feed from Kelsey Muench and re-directed the puck past Grizzlies goaltender Justin Eddy from the top of the crease to give the Falcons a 2-1 edge heading to the second.
After an entertaining second period that featured plenty of scoring chances and physical play from both sides ended with no change to the score, the Falcons took their one-goal lead to the third.
Derek Krestanovich made it a 3-1 game when he found a loose puck through the right circle and fired it past the glove side of Eddy at 8:40. The visitors responded with another goal off a rebound as Utah's leading scorer Ryan Kinasewich notched his 36th of the year at 11:57 to make it a one-goal game again. Leading by one and in the midst of a floundering power play opportunity, the Falcons turned to VanBallegooie, who took a pass at center from Pete Fregoe, blew past the Grizzlies defense, and finished to the backhand past Eddy at 15:30 to restore Fresno's two-goal lead. Wroblewski tallied his second of the game off VanBallegooie's third assist of the contest at 18:05 for the final 5-2 margin.
The win moves Fresno to 42-13-13 on the year with 97 points. They are unbeaten over their last 11 at Save Mart Center (10-0-1) dating back to March 3, which ties the all-time club record for longest home unbeaten streak first set during the 2000-2001 season when the team played in the West Coast Hockey League.
The Falcons play their seventh game in 10 days tomorrow when they take the ice in their final road game of the regular season at Stockton against the Thunder. The game can be heard live on 1550 Sporting News Radio beginning with the FutureTek Pre-game Show at 3:45 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.
ECHL Stories from April 2, 2006
- Steelheads Win Shootout Thriller Over Gulls, 3-2 - Idaho Steelheads
- Idaho Knocks Out Gulls In A Shootout, 4-3 - San Diego Gulls
- Falcons Lose in Overtime, 2-1 - Fresno Falcons
- Thunder knocks off Fresno in 2-1 OT win - Stockton Thunder
- Bombers almost tie it in final seconds of 3-2 loss to Toledo - Dayton Bombers
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- San Diego Tied To Extend Winning Streak To Four, Home Streak To Seven - San Diego Gulls
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- This One Goes To The Dogs - Stockton Thunder
- Royals Drop Disheartening Decision In Dayton, 4-2 - Reading Royals
- Aces close out Salmon Kings 3-0, regain first place - Alaska Aces
- Checkers smooth as "Glass" in 3-1 win at Augusta - Charlotte Checkers
- VanBallegooie's Four-point Night Leads the Way Over Utah - Fresno Falcons
- Aces high, Kings low, No Jokers - Victoria Salmon Kings
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