Salmon Kings Denied In Shootout

Published on March 19, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Wednesday night match-up the Victoria Salmon Kings and Idaho Steelheads met in the first of a four-game set, and the final regular season home stand at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Goaltender Julien Ellis started in net for the Salmon Kings, while the Steelheads countered with Matt Climie.

The Salmon Kings were the first to strike, just 2:30 into the opening frame. While shorthanded, defenseman Patrick Coulombe took the puck down the left wing boards to the goal line, and fired a sharp pass in front of the net that Captain Wes Goldie put past Climie with a backhander. The goal gave the Salmon Kings an early 1-0 lead and was Goldie's team-leading 46th of the season. The Steelheads would beat Ellis during four-on-four action. At 14:53, forward Bryan McGregor took a hard pass at the side of the net from Brandon Svendsen and put the puck over a sprawling Ellis into the top corner. McGregor's goal was his 24th of the year. The Salmon Kings regained their one goal lead on another shorthanded goal. At 17:21, Brady Leavold took a breakaway pass from Matt Kelly and put a backhand shot over the blocker of Climie. Leavold's marker was his fifth of the season. The Steelheads tied the game moments later on the power play. At 18:14, on a goalmouth scramble, Kris Sparre slid the loose puck past Ellis and tied the game at 2-2. Sparre's goal was his 16th of the season, and would be the final goal of the opening frame. The teams skated into the first intermission tied 2-2.

The Steelheads nearly took their first lead of the game close to the five minute mark of the second period. On a three-on-two attack, Brandon Svendson took a wrist shot that beat Ellis, but rang off the crossbar. The Steelheads were again denied their third goal when Ben Nelson had a breakaway opportunity, but a rolling puck and Salmon Kings back-checking allowed Ellis to cover up. The Salmon Kings would convert the lone marker of the second period at 18:10. Holding the puck below the goal line, Goldie put a hard pass up the middle of the ice that was one-timed from Gary Gladue and tipped past Climie by Adam Taylor. Taylor's goal was his ninth of the season. The Salmon Kings took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.

The Salmon Kings held the Steelheads at bay for the majority of the final period, but with the goalie pulled and an extra attacker on the ice, the Steelheads tied the game at 3-3 with 50 seconds remaining in regulation. Sparre had control of the puck behind the net, and a seemingly harmless pass in front of the next deflected off of Svendsen and off the pad of Ellis into the net. Svendsen's goal was the first of his professional career, and sent the game into overtime.

The extra frame solved nothing and for the second time in three games, the Salmon Kings would have their game decided by a shootout. In the shootout, both the Steelheads and Salmon Kings would score with two of their first five shooters. On the first extra shooter, Sparre put a shot past Ellis stick side that deflected off the post and in the net. Olivier Filion needed a goal to extend the shootout, but was denied on a glove save by Climie to end the game. Steelheads 4 Salmon Kings 3 in a shootout.

Victoria finished 0/7 = 0.0% on the power play, while Idaho finished 1/6= 16.7%. The Steelheads outshot the Salmon Kings 34-32.

The Salmon Kings and Steelheads meet again on Friday, March 20th for the second of the four-game set. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m. The two teams meet again on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m., and Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. for the final Salmon Kings regular season home game and Fan Appreciation Day. For tickets call 220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.

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ECHL Stories from March 19, 2009


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