Salmon Kings succumb to Condors nest

Published on December 16, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Bakersfield, CA - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Manitoba Moose and the Vancouver Canucks, who are in the midst of a three-game set in a span of 46 hours, battled the Condors to fight back from a five-goal deficit, but Bakersfield held on for the 6-4 decision.

It took a Victoria powerplay for the scoreboard to light up at 13:07 into the first period, as the Condors netted a shorthanded tally. Mike Hofstrand backhanded in a rebound for his fourth goal of the season and the Bakersfield 1-0 lead. Defenseman Steve Lingren replied for the Salmon Kings as the ensuing faceoff was brought into Condors territory and Lingren wired a shot from the left point. The powerplay goal tied the game 1-1.

Under two minutes later, Bakersfield crept ahead 2-1 as Hofstrand snapped in another goal under the pad of Netminder Julien Ellis. This sparked a five unanswered goal streak for the Condors.

Bakersfield Centre Todd Griffith tallied two consecutive goals in the second period. At 2:45 into the frame, he finished a feed from Brett Lutes for the one-timer, and at 5:36 Griffith snuck one short side after the Condors recovered from a Salmon Kings shorthanded drive, and earned the powerplay goal for a 4-1 lead. Before the halfway mark of the second period, Sean Venedam added another for Bakersfield, forcing Bryan Bridges to replace Ellis between the pipes, and Griffith notched the hat trick to give Bakersfield the 6-1 advantage.

The second half of the game, however, was controlled by the Salmon Kings as they tried to swim back and scored three unanswered goals in the span of two and a half minutes in the second stanza.

Forty seconds after Griffith's hat trick, Wes Goldie garnered his 14th goal of the season, popping in a rebound as a result of Jordan and Derek Krestanovich buzzing around Condors rookie Goaltender Danny Taylor. Mike Stutzel earned his seventh goal of the season 8:45 left the second period, blasting a shot from the point through crease traffic. Lingren posted his second goal of the game with 7:11 remaining in the period, once again during a Victoria powerplay. Lingren pinched in from the point to lift a pass from Derek Krestanovich past Taylor to mark the board at 6-4 for the Condors.

Victoria outshot Bakersfield 14-3 in the final frame, but could not break the two-goal deficit, and suffered their third loss on the 14-day road trip.

Final Score: 6-4 Bakersfield

Taylor tallied his third win of the season, and Ellis, in his fifth consecutive start, was credited with the loss, his eighth of the season. Victoria scored twice in five powerplay opportunities and Bakersfield went 1 for 2 with the man advantage. The Salmon Kings outshot the Condors 40-37.

Victoria (9-14-0-1) will continue the California portion of their six-game road trip at the Save Mart Centre in Fresno against the Falcons (12-9-1-0) tomorrow starting at 5:00 p.m. PT. The Salmon Kings won the last series meeting, 2-1.

NOTES:

- Steve Lingren has scored three goals on the current road trip.

- Mike Stutzel is on a three-game point streak (1g, 2 a).

- Ryan Wade is on four-game point streak (4 assists).

Get your Salmon Kings stocking stuffers today! The gift package includes four game vouchers and two Salmon Kings hats for only $60! Call (250) 220-7777.

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ECHL Stories from December 16, 2006


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