Salmon Kings' Comeback Falls Short in Shootout

December 10, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Anchorage, AK - In a Thursday night match-up at the Sullivan Arena, the Victoria Salmon Kings looked for a club record fifth road win in a row as they took on the Alaska Aces in the second game of a two game set. The Salmon Kings started David Shantz, while the Aces went with Gerald Coleman in net.

Victoria burst out of the gate with a Rick Cleaver marker just 10 seconds after puck drop. Matt Stefanishion stole the puck from an Aces' defender at the Alaska blue line and burst down the right wing. From the bottom of the right face-off circle he fed Cleaver in the slot, who shot the puck past Coleman for his seventh of the year. Alaska held most of the play for the opening 10 minutes after the Salmon Kings found themselves shorthanded four times in that time span, but the penalty killing team negated any major scoring opportunities from the home side. Tempers started to flare between the two arch rivals after Aces' sniper Wes Goldie put the puck past Shantz after the play had been whistled dead. Victoria captain Peter Vandermeer took exception and ignited a multi-player scrum in the corner. Alaska thought they had found their tying goal after Garry Nunn was sprung in on a breakaway. Nunn, a Victoria native, broke in on Shantz and went to his backhand, but Shantz slid across the crease to make the left pad save. Victoria took their 1-0 lead into the second period on the back of 21 saves by Shantz.

The visiting Salmon Kings came out with a solid effort in the middle frame, but it was Alaska who notched the tying and only goal of the period. At the 12:21 mark Aces' forward Ethan Cox broke in on the left side past a Salmon Kings defender and slid the puck into the slot. Chad Anderson was the first skater there and tipped the puck past Shantz high glove side as he crashed the crease and dislodged the net to record his second goal of the season. The teams went into the third frame holding a 1-1 tie.

The Salmon Kings started the third period on the power play, but it was the Aces who had the best chance to break the deadlock. Goldie received the puck as he was coming out of the penalty box and skated down the right hand side on the breakaway. He let a half slap shot go that deflected off the left shoulder of Shantz and out of harm's way. At 15:31 Alaska broke the draw after a scramble in front the Victoria net. The play resulted in Shantz making two initial saves, but he did not get to the third as Brian Swanson put the puck home past a flurry of bodies in the crease. The tally was Swanson's seventh of the year. In the final minute of the game, Goldie took an offensive zone penalty to give Victoria a six-on-four advantage as they had pulled Shantz for the extra attacker. The Salmon Kings used quick puck movement and shots in the final minute to try and draw even. P.J. Atherton slid a crisp pass to Milan Gajic who was poised in the left face-off circle for the one-timer. Gajic unloaded a high hard shot that hit pay dirt with a mere 16 seconds remaining in the game. For Gajic it was his eighth goal of the campaign. The score was 2-2 after regulation as Victoria entered their third overtime contest in the last five games.

Back-and-forth action highlighted the extra period, as both teams had chances to win in the game. Shantz and Coleman held their ground with three stops each to send the game into a shootout. The first four rounds remained scoreless as the goalies bested all eight shooters. Victoria was denied on their fifth attempt on a Matt Stefanishion miss, while Alaska capitalized on Swanson's winner through the legs of the Victoria netminder. Aces 3 Salmon Kings 2 in a shootout.

Victoria went 1/520.0% on the power play, while Alaska was 0/700.0%. The Aces outshot the Salmon Kings 43-23.

Victoria continues their five-game road trip on Wednesday December 15th with a two-game set versus the Idaho Steelheads. To watch or listen live to Salmon Kings hockey visit www.salmonkings.com. The Salmon Kings return home on Tuesday, December 28th to open up a two-game set versus the Ontario Reign. For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.



ECHL Stories from December 10, 2010


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