Salmon Kings comeback to silence Condors

January 21, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Manitoba Moose and the Vancouver Canucks, rallied back in game two of the series versus Bakersfield to force extra periods and clip the Condors in a 6-5 shootout win.

Bakersfield sniper Todd Griffith tallied his 18th goal of the season at 12:01 into the first period. The Condors kept the puck in the Victoria zone and Andrew Ianiero spotted Griffith in the right slot, who settled the pass with his skate and went top shelf on Goaltender Bryan Bridges.

Marc-Andre Bernier scored his fourth goal in as many games to tie the game 1-1 with 5:04 remaining in the first. On the Salmon Kings first powerplay, Veteran Defenseman Steve Lingren's shot rang off the left post onto the stick of a waiting Bernier who popped it into the open cage.

Victoria started the second stanza with their penalty kill squad fighting a five-minute major. Bakersfield capitalized on the advantage to take the 3-1 lead. A Bakersfield shot was blocked in front but the loose puck was picked up by Brett Lutes who slid the puck under Bridges for the first powerplay goal. The second Condors powerplay goal came at 2:47 into the second period as a pass from Josh Liebenow was deflected in by Kevin St. Jacques who was perched on the left of the crease.

Phil Cole scored his first goal with the Salmon Kings with 4:25 remaining in the second stanza. Lingren dumped the puck in to Condors territory and Greg Hornby led the charge to spot Cole at the left point, and his slapshot passed through crease traffic to make it a one-goal game.

Shortly into the third period, Victoria tied the game 3-3 as Wes Goldie intercepted a Condors pass, carried to the right circle and snapped a shot past Goaltender Jamie Hodson. Under one minute later, Kevin Asselin tallied his third goal of the season, nabbing a rebound from a Tyler Liebel shot to take back the Condors lead.

With 5:49 remaining in regulation, Sean Venedam gave Bakersfield a two-goal advantage on a Bakersfield powerplay. The Condors pressured the Salmon Kings net and Venedam buried his 17th goal of the season from the high slot.

Just over one minute later, Goldie brought Victoria within one with a shorthanded tally-his 22nd goal of the season. With 2:26 remaining in regulation, Milan Gajic finished a cross ice pass from F.P. Guenette for the Salmon Kings powerplay goal and 5-5 tie.

Bridges made seven saves in the overtime period to force Victoria's fourth shootout of the season.

The Salmon Kings scored with their first two shooters-Gajic went blocker side and Goldie beat Hodson top corner. Bridges denied four Bakersfield shooters to capture the comeback win.

Final: 6-5 Salmon Kings, shootout

Bridges corralled his fourth win of the season, and Hodson was handed the shootout loss. Victoria went 2 for 8 on the powerplay and Bakersfield went 3 for 10 with the man advantage. The Condors outshot the Salmon Kings 45-26.

The Salmon Kings and the Condors collide for the rubber match on Monday at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.

The Salmon Kings and B2 Networks are broadcasting home games via the internet. Visit www.salmonkings.com for the link to pay-per-view video or free audio feeds ten minutes prior to game time.

The Mini-Martys are here! Purchase a stuffed toy Marmot from Kings Things located at Gate 3, and $1 will be donated to the Marmot Recovery Foundation.

Group together and have more fun! Call (250) 220-7777 for fantastic group rates to Salmon Kings games and fundraising opportunities.



ECHL Stories from January 21, 2007


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