Salmon Kings bury the Ice Dogs

Published on March 25, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Manitoba Moose and the Vancouver Canucks, crept closer to playoff status with their third straight win as Netminder Bryan Bridges helped leash the Ice Dogs 4-1 in front of 4,500 fans at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

The Salmon Kings starting lineup posted a goal in the first 23 seconds of the game to nab the 1-0 advantage. Derek Krestanovich battled the puck from the corner and passed to Kiel McLeod, who then led Darryl Lloyd with a breakaway pass on the left wing. Lloyd sliced to the right and backhanded five-hole on Goaltender Mike Brown.

Victoria started the second stanza on the powerplay and tallied the 2-0 lead within 31 seconds. Steve Lingren moved the puck to McLeod and the Salmon Kings captain connected for his 28th goal of the season. Under two minutes later, Milan Gajic dug the puck from the left corner and made a long distance feed to Lingren in the high slot, and the veteran defenseman gave Victoria a 3-0 lead with a low wristshot through traffic.

Long Beach got on the board in the third period, as Mark Hurtubise tallied his 17th goal of the season. Bridges made the initial save on a shot from the top of the right circle, but in sprawling for a loose puck the cage was left open and Hurtubise closed the gap at 6:23 into the period.

The Salmon Kings countered a little over two minutes later as Ryan Wade chased down the dumped puck, forcing Brown to mishandle, and Jordan Krestanovich pounced on the loose disc to put away his second goal in as many nights.

Final: 4-1 Salmon Kings

Bridges earned his eleventh win of the season, and Brown was handed his 19th loss. Victoria was 1 for 5 on the powerplay and Long Beach was 0 for 7 with the man advantage. The Ice Dogs outshot the Salmon Kings 43-35. The Salmon Kings (30-32-1-3) take playoff hopes to the road against the Utah Grizzlies (22-37-3-4) for a three-game series starting Wednesday March 28 at the E-Center, before returning home to face the Phoenix Roadrunners in the final series of the regular season, starting April 4.

NOTES:

- The Salmon Kings take the season series against Long Beach, 7-2-0.

- The Salmon Kings (in seventh in the National Conference) pull ahead of eighth place Phoenix by nine points.

- Victoria penalty kill blanked Long Beach for the series (11 for 11).

- The Salmon Kings are 6-1-3 in March.

- Bryan Bridges tied his pro career best 0.971 save percentage.

- Steve Lingren is on a four-game point streak (2g, 3a).

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

- Jordan Krestanovich is on a three-game point streak (2g, 2a).

Salmon Kings playoff tickets go on sale Tuesday March 27th. Don't miss out! Call Select Your Tickets at (250)220-7777.

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ECHL Stories from March 25, 2007


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