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David Shantz makes 28 saves in Victoria's 2-1 loss to Bakersfield

March 5, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Friday night matchup at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the Victoria Salmon Kings took on the Bakersfield Condors in the second of a three game set. The Salmon Kings started franchise shutout leader David Shantz between the pipes, while the Condors countered with Philadelphia Flyers' prospect Brian Stewart.

Victoria started the game strong as they opened the scoring 47 seconds in. Ryan Turek flew down the left side and put a backhand on net. The puck bounced off the right post and then off the right skate of Stewart and past the goal line. The marker was Turek's 10th of the year. Minutes later on a 5-on-3 power play, Turek fed a seeing-eye pass to Tim Kraus to the left of the net. The former Vancouver Giant one-timed the puck on goal, but Stewart slid over to make right pad save. The period saw both teams start to throw their body around as they looked to control the momentum. Bakersfield had their best opportunity on the power play after two Victoria defenders had lost their sticks. The penalty kill unit consisting of Josh Aspenlind, Ryan Dingle, Derick Martin and Turek were able to block numerous shot attempts and hold the Condors to the outside. The strong penalty kill swung the momentum as Victoria controlled the play for rest of the period. The Salmon Kings took their 1-0 lead into the second period.

The second period opened as both teams looked to control the play and find the game's next goal. Shantz made his best of save of the game after Tibor Varga took a quick snap shot from high slot that the Victoria goaltender turned aside with the left pad. Minutes later Varga received another scoring opportunity. The Slovakia native found a loose rebound in front of the slot and slid the puck through the legs of Shantz for his first ECHL goal at 12:32. Bakersfield then grabbed the lead at 14:36 after Guillaume Lefebvre took numerous whacks at a loose puck that squeezed through Shantz and rolled over the goal line. The tally was the Condors' forward's fifth of the season. Bakersfield pressured the Salmon Kings for most of the second period as they held Victoria to four shots. Two unanswered second period goals gave the Condors a 2-1 advantage going into the final period.

The Salmon Kings opened the third period with an early 4-on-3 power play, but could not find the game tying marker. Minutes after the power play, Rob Hennigar sprung Rick Cleaver in on a breakaway. The Parksville, BC native took a quick snap shot that Stewart turned aside, but the rebound came out to Jeff Caister at the left point. The Salmon Kings' defenseman quickly put the puck on net, but was unable to beat a sprawled Stewart. With less than 10 minutes left Bobby Robbins created a turnover at the Victoria blue line and came in on Shantz from the right wing. Robbins deked across the net, but Shantz followed the puck to deny the shooter with his right pad. Despite the Salmon Kings' efforts to tie the game, the Condors continued to play a very defensive minded third period and held on for the victory. Condors 2 Salmon Kings 1.

Victoria went 0/5 = 0.0% on the power play, while Bakersfield was 0/3 = 0.0%. The Condors outshot the Salmon Kings 30-23.

Victoria will play the final game of their three game set versus the Bakersfield Condors tomorrow at 7:05pm. Tomorrow night's contest is the Salmon Kings "Hockey Night in Canada" game. Vancouver Canucks' national anthem singer Mark Donnelly will be in attendance performing the pre-game anthems, while various jersey giveaways will happen throughout the night. An autographed Vancouver Canucks Robert Luongo jersey is available for online auction at www.salmonkings.com, which will be presented on Saturday. For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.

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