GAME 9 PREVIEW: BATON ROUGE KINGFISH AT FRESNO FALCONS

KINGFISH GO FOR SPLIT WITH FALCONS 

The Baton Rouge Kingfish aim to salvage a weekend split with the Fresno Falcons tonight at Selland Arena.

Last night, the Falcons defeated the Kingfish, 4-2, behind a three-goal second period in the first-ever meeting between the two franchises. 

Tonight is the fourth game of Baton Rouge's seven-game road trip. The road swing concludes next weekend with a three-in-three in Binghamton against the three-time defending champion Black Bears. 

BROADCAST COVERAGE

Kingfish Pregame at 7:50 p.m.

Streaming: Free-to-watch video on YouTube at
www.youtube.com/@BatonRougeKingfish

LAST TIME OUT

The Fresno Falcons utilized a three-goal second period to push past the Kingfish, 4-2, last night at Selland Arena in Fresno, California. Baton Rouge's three-game winning streak ended with the loss.  

Jason Brancheau got the Kingfish off to a great start in the first period, scoring the game's opening goal 1:08 in. Baton Rouge went on to heavily tilt the ice in its favor in the opening stanza, out-shooting Fresno 16-4, but the visitors had just one tally to show for their efforts after 20 minutes. 

Early in the second, the Falcons offense began to find their rhythm. They tied the game on a two-on-one 47 seconds into the middle frame and jumped ahead, 2-1, just past the halfway point of regulation. Fresno capped off the three-goal period at 17:44 and led Baton Rouge by two, 3-1, heading to the third.   

Noah Vance scored his first professional goal 5:57 into the final period, tapping in a pass from Garrett Klotz. The Kingfish launched everything they had at the Falcons in the final 14 minutes, out-shooting Fresno, 10-9, in the third period. However, Baton Rouge was unable to muster the equalizer. The Falcons collected an insurance goal with 1:58 remaining to seal the win, 4-2.

Ed Coffey allowed four goals on 26 shots in the loss.  

BRANCHEAU BAGS ANOTHER

Jason Brancheau notched a team-high two points (1g, 1a) last night in the loss, 4-2. 

Brancheau, 27, roofed a backhander to open the scoring 68 seconds into the first period and later added a secondary assist on Noah Vance's goal in the third period.   

The former Ferris State Bulldog has found the back of the net six times this season, tied for the team lead with Jake Cox. 

He's notched three multi-point games and is pacing the club with two game-winning goals.

FIRST GAME, FIRST GOAL

Forward Noah Vance scored his first professional goal in his professional debut last night. 

Vance, 25, was signed by the Kingfish Friday morning  and last night marked his first game since the 2022-23 season with the University of Arizona at the ACHA level.

Vance is the younger brother of Fresno Falcons defenseman Carson Vance.

KLOTZY MAKES HIS IMPACT FELT

Vetern forward Garrett Klotz was signed Friday morning by the Kingfish and immediately made his presence known in last night's game.

The 37-year-old logged an assist and scored a decisive victory in a fight at the end of the second period. 

Klotz is in his 19th professional season and has played 157 AHL games and 388 ECHL contests in his career.

He spent last season with the ECHL's Rapid City Rush, compiling one goal and one assist in 24 games. 

SCOUTING THE FALCONS

The Falcons have won four consecutive games and opened the 2026-27 campaign 7-1-0. 

Aaron Huffnagle, the FPHL leader in points (23) and assists (15), racked up another three-point (1g, 2a) performance last night. The 31-year-old has delivered at least two points in each of Fresno's first eight games.

Fellow forward Justin Daly has also been on a tear. He scored a pair of goals last night, including the game-winner, and has points in four consecutive games.

The Falcons are 5-1-0 on home ice this season.