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Five different players record goals in 6-5 shootout win over Utah

February 27, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Saturday night match-up at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre the Victoria Salmon Kings took on the Utah Grizzlies in the second of a two game set. The Salmon Kings came into tonight's game as winners of four of their last five home games, while the Grizzlies looked to snap a five game winless drought. Victoria started former Kelly Cup Champion Chris Beckford-Tseu between the pipes, while Utah went with Santa Barbara, CA native Tamio Stehrenberger.

Victoria started the game strong as they applied early pressure in the Grizzlies' zone for the opening minute. Utah looked like they had scored the first goal of the night after Chris Donovan directed the puck into the net, but the goal was quickly called back due to the puck being kicked in. The Grizzlies would light the lamp only a few seconds after the disallowed goal as they converted on the power play at 5:19. From the right half boards Kevin Deeth made a crisp pass across the zone to Hugo Carpentier. The third year pro tapped the puck past the outstretched leg of the Victoria netminder for his 11th marker of the year. The Salmon Kings looked to control the physical play after Kiel McLeod laid a hard, solid body check on Brian Kilburg in the Grizzlies' zone. At 11:46 on a Victoria power play Rick Cleaver passed the puck to Chad Painchaud at the top of the right circle. The Mississauga, ON native controlled the puck and then released a wrist shot that went off the glove of the Grizzlies' goaltender and trickled over the goal line for his 16th goal of the season. The home side continued their relentless pressure that resulted in two quality scoring chances. First Derek Couture rushed end-to-end past a couple of Grizzlies' defenders to have his wrist shot kicked aside by the right pad of Stehrenberger. The second opportunity came after Rob Hennigar fed a nice pass over to Ed Snetsinger. The University of Toronto grad snapped a shot on net that beat Stehrenberger, but rang off the left post. Minutes later Painchaud broke down the right wing and put a shot on goal. Utah's goalie made the first save, but Couture was on the door step to lift the puck into the top right corner. The tally was the Couture's eight of year at 15:18. The Grizzles would reply two minutes later after Tim Crowder collected a Beckford-Tseu rebound in front of the crease and deposited it in the net for his 13th goal of the season at 18:17 on the power play. The first period ended with the shots tied 13-13 and the score knotted up 2-2.

Victoria started the second period on the power play, but the Grizzlies penalty killers were able to deny the Salmon Kings. At 2:55 Matt Butcher raced into the Utah end and made a nice drop pass to Ryan Dingle in the high slot. The Salmon Kings' forward took a slap shot that made its way through Stehrenberger for his 6th marker of the year. The physical play continued after Victoria defender Derick Martin put a hard, clean shoulder into Deeth at the Salmon Kings' blue line to negate a Grizzlies' opportunity. Ryan Turek looked to double the Victoria lead on a 4-on-3 power play half way through the frame. The Michigan State product one-timed the puck on net that made it through a maze of bodies, but struck the right post and stayed out. The Grizzlies would convert their third of the night a couple minutes later at 11:16. From the right point David Schulz put a shot on net that was deflected by Riley Grantham past Beckford-Tseu. The goal was the Calgary Flames' prospects first goal of the year. The Salmon Kings continued to control the physical edge after a hard shift from McLeod which saw him rub out numerous Grizzlies along the boards. With 30 seconds remaining in the second period Hennigar stole the puck and broke in off the right side. The Salmon Kings' forward took a shot which Stehrenberger turned aside, but Bryan Cameron pounded home the rebound from in the crease. Victoria took their 4-3 lead into the second frame and a 23-1-0-0 record when leading after two periods.

The third period opened with few whistles and end-to-end rushes from both teams as they looked for the next goal of the game. Victoria increased their lead after Milan Gajic attempted a cross-crease pass to Kiel McLeod. The puck deflected off a Grizzlies' defender and through the legs of Stehrenberger for his 13th of the year at 6:29. Utah would cut into Victoria's lead just under three minutes later. Tom May came down the right wing and slid a pass over to Deeth on the left wing. The Notre Dame grad tapped the puck into the net before the Salmon Kings' goaltender could slide over and make the save. The marker was the Grizzlies' forwards 11th of the campaign. With less than five minutes remaining the Grizzlies received a power play opportunity as they looked for the equalizing goal. Utah would convert on the man advantage after Matt Sorteberg stepped into a shot from the right point that beat Beckford-Tseu. The game tying goal was notched at 16:59 and was Sorteberg's third of the season. The Salmon Kings received a late four minute power play, but could not convert on the flurry of chances they generated. The teams finished regulation tied 5-5.

Overtime started with the home team still on the power play. The Salmon Kings were able to move the puck cleanly around the outside and almost scored the winning goal after Turek hit the right post from the high slot. Utah got a chance on a power play late into the extra period, but could not generate the winning goal. The teams remained tied after overtime and headed to a shootout.

The first two shooters for the Salmon Kings scored as Cleaver buried the puck blocker side and Gajic put his shot through the legs of Stehrenberger. Beckford-Tseu shut the door as he denied all the Utah shooters for the win. Salmon Kings 6 Grizzlies 5

Victoria went 1/6 = 16.7% on the power play, while Utah was 3/5 = 60.0%. The Salmon Kings out shot the Grizzlies 44-37.

The Salmon Kings will now host the Bakersfield Condors for a three-game set at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre beginning on Wednesday, March 2nd. The other two contests will go on Friday, March 4th and Saturday, March 5th. Puck drop for all three games is at 7:05 pm. For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.



ECHL Stories from February 27, 2011


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