Condors claw Salmon Kings

January 20, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Manitoba Moose and the Vancouver Canucks, dropped their third loss of the season to the Bakersfield Condors in the first game of the home series. The Condors took a five goal lead and captured the 8-1 victory.

Bakersfield leading goal-scorer Brett Lutes tallied his 20th goal of the season at 3:18 into the first period. The Salmon Kings couldn't clear the puck as Defenseman Steve Rodberg's shot from the left point rebounded to the stick of Lutes and he beat Goaltender Bryan Bridges blocker side.

With 3:48 remaining in the first, Josh Liebenow blasted a shot from four feet above the left circle for the 2-0 lead on Bridge's gloveside. Before the opening stanza closed, Mike Hofstrand was awarded with a goal resulting from a high rebound bouncing off a reaching stick.

To start the second period, at 22 seconds in, Tyler Scott capitalized off a winning faceoff in the Salmon Kings zone to give Bakersfield the 4-0 advantage. Hofstrand hoisted his second goal of the night with a slapshot from the top of the right circle at 1:56 into the second for the 5-0 Condors jump.

The Salmon Kings broke the stretch as Canucks prospect Marc-Andre Bernier earned his fourth goal in seven games. Bernier fed Milan Gajic along the right boards who sent it back to Bernier, and he tipped it backhanded past Goaltender Jamie Hodson for the first Victoria goal of the game.

The Condors were the only team to score in the third period. Liebenow tallied his second goal of the game with a wristshot from the slot which caught Bridges' glove but trickled in. AT 5:03 into the period, Todd Griffith scored his 17th goal of the season in grabbing his own rebound and carrying behind the net for a wraparound. Hofstrand notched the hat trick before the ten-minute mark, and the Condors fed Victoria their third loss in the season series.

Final: 8-1 Condors

Hodson posted his 17th win of the season, and Bridges was marked with his 13th loss. Victoria went 0 for 3 on the powerplay and Bakersfield went 1 for 4 with the man advantage. The Condors outshot the Salmon Kings 34-27.

The Salmon Kings and the Condors duel for game two tomorrow at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.

NOTES

- Marc-Andre Bernier is on a three-game goal streak.

The Salmon Kings and B2 Networks are broadcasting home games via the internet. Visit www.salmonkings.com for the link to pay-per-view video or free audio feeds ten minutes prior to game time.

The Mini-Martys are here! Purchase a stuffed toy Marmot from Kings Things located at Gate 3, and $1 will be donated to the Marmot Recovery Foundation.

Group together and have more fun! Call (250) 220-7777 for fantastic group rates to Salmon Kings games and fundraising opportunities.



ECHL Stories from January 20, 2007


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