Salmon Kings Comeback Falls Short

Published on March 31, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings and Fresno Falcons met on Sunday evening as the Salmon Kings wrapped up a four games in five nights tour of the Golden State.

Fresno hit the board less than five minutes in when a Luke Curtain point shot from the left side went off a skate and ended up skipping over onto Kenny Bernard's stick. The Falcon made no mistake putting the puck in the right side of the cage. The Salmon Kings tied it up less than two minutes later when Chris St. Jacques worked his way off the right sideboards and fed a beautiful cross crease pass to Darryl Lloyd who swatted it past Fresno goaltender Jake Moreland. Victoria netminder Julien Ellis made a handful of dazzling saves in the first period including two left pad saves against Igor Gongalsky from point blank range. The teams went to the dressing rooms tied 1-1 after the first period.

The Falcons again scored in the first few minutes of the period when a goal mouth scramble saw the puck pop out to Kenny Bernard who somehow found the back of the net through a maze of bodies. Fresno increased their lead on the power play when Brady Liesenring one-timed a cross crease pass from Igor Gongalsky. The Kings would respond when Derek Krestanovich burst down the right side and snapped a shot past Moreland on the blocker side. Fresno would lead 3-2 after two periods.

Fresno scored in the first minute of the period as Matt Stephanision picked up a loose puck and beat Ellis on the breakaway to put the Falcons back up by two goals. The Salmon Kings got that back when Patrick Coulombe sent Wes Goldie away on a shorthanded breakaway. Goldie made no mistake firing the puck past Moreland. The Salmon Kings looked for the equalizer late in the period and Ash Goldie provided it when he put his own rebound up and over Moreland. The game would go to overtime.

In the extra session, Matt Kelly chipped a pass up the boards to a wide open Wes Goldie, but the puck hit the official and sent the Falcons back the other way. Ellis stopped the first shot by Josh Prudden, but Mike Ramsay picked up the rebound and fired it in the net for the winner. Falcons 5 Salmon Kings 4.

The Salmon Kings went 0/5=0% on the power play while the Falcons were 1/2=50%. Fresno out shot Victoria 39-34.

The Salmon Kings return home for a three game set against their rivals the Alaska Aces starting on Wednesday, April 2nd. The series will help determine first place in the West Division. Puck drop at 7:05. Call 220-7889 for tickets.

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ECHL Stories from March 31, 2008


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