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Week Capped by Hard Fought Victory over Idaho

March 3, 2003 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


The Fresno Falcons played five games last week, culminating with their first win in Idaho against the Steelheads since their Taylor Cup-clinching, Game Six, double overtime victory last May at the Bank of America Centre.

Fresno began the week in Anchorage where they split a pair of one-goal games against the Aces. On Tuesday the club notched a come-from-behind shootout victory by a score of 4-3 before they fell on Wednesday, 5-4, in regulation. The loss Wednesday marked the Falcons' only setback in seven clashes this season at Anchorage.

The defending champs then traveled to Boise where they faced the Steelheads three nights in a row. Friday's tilt was decided in a shootout as Fresno lost 3-2 in the extra session. Despite the team's seventh hat trick of the season by Kris Porter on Saturday (his second hat trick of the year), the club lost, 6-5, running their record in Idaho to 0-4-2 on the year. In the final match-up for the Falcons at the Bank of America Centre during the regular season, they rode a strong goaltending effort from Mark Gowan (36 saves on 38 shots) and goals from five different players to a 5-2 victory. They became just the second team in the league this season to defeat the Steelheads on their home ice.

The fourth-place Falcons begin this week with a record of 30-21-6 and 66 points, nine points behind the second-place San Diego Gulls and seven points back of the third-place Bakersfield Condors.

11-GAME TREK CONTINUES

The Falcons continue the longest road trip in franchise history with two games against each of the two teams they trail most closely in the standings. They venture into Centennial Garden on Tuesday for a showdown with the Condors before heading to San Diego to play the Gulls on Friday and Saturday. Their 16-day, five-city journey on which Fresno has gone 3-3-1 through seven games finally ends back in Bakersfield on Sunday with another clash against the Condors.

All four games can be heard live on 103.1 FM, The Mountain Cat, beginning with the Mail Boxes, Etc. Pre-game Show. Tuesday, Friday and Saturday's broadcasts all begin at 6:50 p.m., while Sunday's broadcast gets underway at 4:50 p.m.

PLAYOFF SPOT WITHIN SIGHT

Fresno can clinch a spot in the post-season by gaining just five more points in the standings. The most points the fifth-place Long Beach Ice Dogs could finish with is 70. Since the season series winner between the Falcons and Ice Dogs has yet to be determined, getting to the 71-point plateau would guarantee the club a spot in the Taylor Cup playoffs and a chance to defend their Championship.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

The Falcons will remain on the road all week and will not return to Fresno for practice until next Tuesday, March 8.

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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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