GAME NOTES Las Vegas Wranglers at Fresno Falcons (18-18-4, 40 pts) (21-14-4, 46 pts) 2004-05 vs. Las Vegas: 3-1-0

 

TONIGHT’S MATCH-UP:
The Falcons and Wranglers resume the second half of the campaign with a re-match of last Sunday’s game at Save Mart Center. In Fresno’s final home game and Las Vegas’ final game overall before the ECHL All-Star Break, David Brisson and Sam Ftorek each registered a goal and an assist and Jamie Hodson made 37 saves in the Falcons’ 4-2 victory. The win made it three straight wins in the season series for Fresno following a 5-1 loss at the hands of the Wranglers during the first game of the season. Two National Conference All-Stars skate for Glen Gulutzan’s team - rookie Dana Lattery (#16) and former Falcon Jason McBain (#7), who was named a starter.

FALCONS UPDATE:
Fresno takes the ice tonight after their season-high five-game winning streak and 10-game unbeaten streak came to an end on Monday due to a 2-0 loss to the West Division-leading Bakersfield Condors at Centennial Garden. It was the Falcons’ first loss in regulation since a 4-3 setback on New Year’s Eve to the Wheeling Nailers and marked the third time Fresno has been shutout this season. The team returns from the break with a busy three-games-in-three-days weekend continuing tomorrow at 1 p.m. when they host the Long Beach Ice Dogs. The Falcons then travel to Long Beach Arena on Sunday to complete a home-and-home series with the Ice Dogs, the only team against which Fresno has a losing record (1-3-0) this season.

SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Falcons are ranked 11th (17.0%) on the power play and 16th (83.1%) on the penalty kill, while Las Vegas owns the league’s top-ranked power play (20.2%) and is 18th (82.9%) on the penalty kill. Fresno had a string of 23 consecutive kills snapped during last Sunday’s game against the Wranglers, who scored both of their goals with the extra man.

NEWEST JR. FALCON HAS ARRIVED:
Jason Weaver’s wife, Jamie, gave birth to a son on Wednesday morning. Aidan Weaver arrived weighing six lbs., six oz. and was 20 inches long.

BRISSON EARNS LEAGUE ACCOLADE:
David Brisson earned a runner-up nod for league Player of the Week for the week of Jan. 17 - 23. Brisson recorded a goal, an assist and a +2 rating in both of Fresno’s victories last week against the Pensacola Ice Pilots and Wranglers, with his tally against Las Vegas serving as the game-winner. He’s the fourth Falcons player to earn league recognition this season. Shawn Heaphy garnered Player of the Week runner-up honors for his work from Nov. 8 - 14, and Jamie Hodson was the ECHL’s Saver of the Week from Jan. 10 - 16. And, of course, Fresno captain Dan Tessier was named a National Conference starter and alternate captain at the ECHL All-Star Game this week. The National Conference defeated the American Conference by a score of 6-2 on Wednesday, with Tessier recording zero points and three shots on goal.

ADVANTAGE MAN BEHIND THE MASK:
Jamie Hodson made Fresno’s second stop of a penalty shot this season when he stoned Bakersfield’s Brett Lutes at 11:24 of the second period on Monday. Brett Jaeger also stopped a penalty shot earlier this season. Ironically, Jaeger’s save came during the Falcons’ last regulation loss before Monday’s setback when he denied Wheeling’s Cam Paddock on Dec. 31. League-wide, 18 penalty shots have been awarded this season and the shooters have only scored once.

ROSTER NOTES:
The Cleveland Barons re-called winger Scott Dobben back to the AHL yesterday after he played two games with the Falcons (0 pts., 2 PIM). Paul Falco (7-day), Matt O’Dette (7-day) and Lanny Gare (30-day) all remain on injured reserve.