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Salmon Kings Down Grizzlies

March 19, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Friday night regular season contest at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the Victoria Salmon Kings took on the Utah Grizzlies in the second game of a three-game set. The Salmon Kings started David Shantz, while the Grizzlies gave Andrew Engelage the nod in net.

The Salmon Kings controlled a large amount of the possession early in the game, but it was Utah that had the first chance of the game. Paul McIlveen had the puck land on his stick in the slot as he fired a snap shot on net that was turned aside by Shantz. Ryan Dingle got Victoria on the board shorthanded at the 4:44 mark of the first when he jumped up in the rush. Jeff Caister skated down the left wing and spotted Dingle in the high slot who one-timed it past Engelage on the far side. Kiel McLeod had a great chance to double Victoria's lead shortly after when he took a pass in the neutral zone from Derick Martin off a Grizzlies' turnover. McLeod used his speed to beat the defenseman wide, but was stopped by the Grizzlies net minder on his offering. Playing in his Salmon Kings debut, Tommy Maxwell was noticeably physical on the ice as he threw numerous body checks to energize the rest of the team. Engelage had to be sharp at the end of the first frame as the Salmon Kings poured on the pressure. Scott Freeman was stopped on a three-on-one and then shortly after Milan Gajic was denied on an attempt from the sot. Victoria outshot Utah 10-3 after 20 minutes and maintained their 1-0 lead.

Victoria was awarded a power play to start the second frame after Grizzlies' forward Ryley Grantham took a high sticking penalty. This would prove costly for the Grizzlies as Victoria would double their lead at the 2:04 mark. Chad Painchaud button hooked deep in the zone after a pass from Gajic and in turn threw the puck to Scott Freeman in the slot. Freeman had the puck bounce off his chest before he settled it down and buried his second with the Salmon Kings. Showing his frustration Engelage shoved Freeman to the ground after the goal but received no penalty. Gajic almost scored his 19th goal of the season on the ensuing power play when he took a pass from Michael Wilson and streaked in on Engelage. Gajic deked the goaltender to the ice but Engelage kicked out his pad to make the save. McLeod scored his ninth goal of the season on the power play at 15:43 when he took a pass from Geoff Waugh on the side wall and buried a snap shot top shelf over the shoulder of Engelage. Victoria dominated the possession in the first two periods having outshot Utah 20-6 and took their 3-0 lead into the second intermission.

At the start of the third period Victoria's Chad Painchaud was awarded a penalty shot by referee Jarrod Ragusin after he was dragged down on a breakaway. Painchaud gathered the zone with a great deal of speed and made one quick move before trying to snap it top shelf, but sent the puck over the net. Minutes later after Freeman was stopped on a partial breakaway, Utah hit the scoreboard at the 8:04 mark on the power play. Ferguson snapped a shot through traffic from the left faceoff circle that went high glove side over Shantz. Utah poured on the pressure early in the third period having more than doubled their two period shot total in the first 10 minutes. Using that controlled pressure, Utah scored their second goal of the game at the 12:30 mark when Marcus Carroll buried a bouncing puck past Shantz from the slot. Not long after Utah got back within one, Grantham put a questionable high hit on Caister in front of the Victoria bench. Caister would exact revenge on the ensuing power play when he made a great play at the blue line to keep the puck in before throwing it on net. Caister's rebound would find its way on the stick of Rob Hennigar at the side of the net as he buried his eighth goal of the season. Salmon Kings' forward Adam Taylor would ensure the victory for the home side after an empty net goal in the final minute. Salmon Kings 5 Grizzlies 2.

The Salmon Kings regained their nine point lead over Ontario for the final playoff position. Both teams have eight games remaining.

Victoria went 4/850.0% on the power play, while Bakersfield was 1/616.6%. The Salmon Kings outshot the Grizzlies 33-19.

The Salmon Kings will finish their series with the Grizzlies tomorrow evening at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre at 7:05 p.m. Tomorrow night is the third annual "Eco Night" where Victoria has partnered with the Pacific Salmon Foundation. Tickets are now available for just $18, with $3 from each purchase donated back to the Foundation. Discounted tickets are also available in exchange for a recyclable item worth $7 off an adult ticket or $4 off any student, senior or child ticket. The Bottle Depot will be on site tomorrow night beginning at 6:00 p.m. collecting all recyclable items. For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.

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