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Grizzlies declawed by Salmon Kings

March 16, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Manitoba Moose and the Vancouver Canucks, began their two-week stretch of home games awakening the Grizzlies in game one of a three-game series at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Utah battled for a lead in the second period, but the Salmon Kings scored four straight to solidify a 6-3 win.

The Salmon Kings lit the lamp at 7:45 into the first period to take the lead. Milan Gajic scooped the puck at the Utah blueline along the right boards and spun around to feed Marc-Andre Bernier skating to the net. Bernier handcuffed Netminder Rob McVicar with a shot from the high slot for his 15th goal of the season.

The Grizzlies bit back early in the second stanza as in a rush off the opening faceoff, Luciano Aquino threw the puck to the net from the left circle and Brad Herauf tipped it five-hole on Goaltender Julien Ellis for the 1-1 tie. Utah took the 2-1 lead at 3:48 into the second period as Herauf's rising wrist shot from the left circle earned him his second tally of the game.

The Salmon Kings tied the score at two apiece as Ryan Wade won a faceoff in the Grizzlies territory and Defensemen Phil Cole sliced a shot through traffic for his third goal of the season. Victoria regained the lead with 4:03 remaining in the middle frame. Wade chased a puck along the right boards and chipped a backhand pass to Wes Goldie heading to the slot and Goldie extended his three-game point streak with a one-timer five-hole on McVicar.

Victoria tallied another two goals to open up the third period and take a 5-2 advantage. On the powerplay, Gajic led a streaking Bernier and he shook left to right to beat McVicar for his second marker of the game. At 2:42 into the third, the Salmon Kings moved the puck out of their zone, and from the right wing corner F.P. Guenette spotted a trailing Seamus Young open in the slot and the rookie defenseman earned his ninth goal of the season.

Utah settled the streak with a shorthanded goal from Jimmie Kraft at 6:14 into the final period, but Victoria answered with a powerplay goal with 2:19 remaining. In waiting at the right point, Matt Kelly finished a feed from Guenette for his seventh tally of the season.

Final: 6-3 Salmon Kings

Ellis earned his 18th win of the season, and McVicar was handed his 24th loss. Victoria was 2 for 7 on the powerplay and Utah was 0 for 7 with the man advantage. The Salmon Kings outshot the Grizzlies 32-25. The Salmon Kings (27-31-1-3) defend their playoff spot in game two against the Utah Grizzlies (21-33-3-4) on Saturday starting at 7:05 p.m. at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

NOTES:

- The Salmon Kings remain undefeated in regulation in March.

- The Salmon Kings powerplay is 31.8% (7/22) against Utah this season.

- Mike Stutzel is on a four-game point streak (1g, 4a).

- Wes Goldie is on a four-game point streak (2g, 2a).

- Milan Gajic is on a three-game point streak (2, 5a).

- Rookie defenseman Seamus Young earned his fourth multi-point game of the season.

The Victoria Salmon Kings and Select Your Tickets offer the best medicine for your playoff fever. Get four regular season ticket vouchers, plus two vouchers which can be used in the first two games of the first round of playoffs at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, for just $96 (valued at more than $129). That's a prescription you can't pass up! Call 220-7777.



ECHL Stories from March 16, 2007


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