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Salmon Kings come up short in OT

April 10, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Staff Writers: Paul Haysom and Bradley Watson

Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings started their run for the Kelly Cup tonight as they played host to the Bakersfield Condors for Game 1 of the National Conference Quarter-Finals. The Kings clinched the West division on Saturday night with a 4-1 victory over the Alaska Aces in front of a sold out Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The win seeded the Kings in second place in the National Conference and positioned them against the seventh seeded Condors.

Bakersfield's Mark Derlago opened the scoring when he tallied an unassisted marker just 43 seconds into the game. Goaltender Billy Thompson tried to poke the puck away from the side of the net Derlago knocked the puck down and slipped past Thompson for the 1-0 Condors lead. The Kings had some great opportunities to draw even throughout the period but Bakersfield goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji stayed strong in net. Fukufuji stopped all 16 shots fired his way to keep the score 1-0 after 20 minutes of play.

Both teams came out flying in the second period for some fast paced, hard hitting playoff hockey. The teams traded scoring chances, but Thompson and Fukufuji stayed solid between the pipes to carry the 1-0 Bakersfield lead into the third period.

The Salmon Kings were finally able to solve Fukufuji midway through the third period. After peppering the Bakersfield net minder with a barrage of shots, Kevin Estrada pounced on a rebound in front to knot the score 1-1. Wes and Ash Goldie drew the assists on the play. The game tightened up for the remainder of the period, with both teams not wanting to make a crucial mistake. The Kings had a chance to win it with a late period power play but Fukufuji stayed solid to send the game into overtime.

Bakersfield was given an early power play opportunity in the overtime period, and took advantage. Kevin Truelson fired a shot from the point that made its way through a screen in front to give Bakersfield the 2-1 victory. With the win, the Condors lead the best of seven series 1-0.

The Kings went 0/4=0% with the extra man and finished with 40 shots on net while the Condors went 1/5 =20% on the power play and fired 36 shots on Thompson. The series resumes with Game 2 which goes on Saturday night at 7:05pm. For tickets call 220-7889.



ECHL Stories from April 10, 2008


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