Salmon Kings Drop Game Two In Overtime

Published on April 29, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Anchorage, AK- In a Thursday night matchup at the Sullivan Arena, the Victoria Salmon Kings took on the Alaska Aces in Game 2 of the best-of-seven Western Conference Final. Alaska came into the game with the 1-0 series lead. The Salmon Kings started David Shantz in net, while the Aces countered with Gerald Coleman.

Alaska opened the game with an early 5-on-3 power play after consecutive penalties to Victoria. On the man advantage, Aces' forward Scott Howes converted on a rebound in the slot for his fourth of the playoffs at 4:11. The Aces received two more power plays by the 10 minute mark of the period. Alaska was able to set up in the zone on each advantage, but strong play by Shantz and the Victoria penalty killers kept it a one goal game. The Salmon Kings picked up their physical play to answer the Aces' start after defenseman Geoff Waugh laid out Howes by the Victoria bench. The Salmon Kings had their first power play of the night late in the frame and continued their physical play as Kiel McLeod took out Brian Swanson in the Victoria left wing corner. Shantz made 11 saves in the period as the Aces took their 1-0 lead into the second frame.

The Salmon Kings had a strong start to the period and were rewarded with an early power play, but could not find the tying marker. For the next few minutes Victoria held the advantage in offensive opportunities as they kept the Aces in their zone. At the 4:44 mark off a faceoff, defenseman Jeff Caister passed the puck to the right point for Derick Martin. The Salmon Kings' veteran fired a one-timer that went through the legs of Coleman to tie the game. The marker was Martin's second of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Both teams continued the physical play after the whistle on several occasions which resulted in 4-on-4 action for over four minutes. Halfway through the period Tyler Ruegsegger came in on a 2-on-1 with Dan Kissel. Ruegsegger streaked down the right boards and fired a pass to the slot area for Kissel. The Aces' forward directed the puck on net, but Shantz slid across the crease to make the nice save. Victoria continued their strong second period as they forced Coleman to make several quality saves in the final half of the frame. At the 18:50 mark, Chad Painchaud circled around the net and found Rob Hennigar in the slot. Hennigar snapped a shot on net that Coleman saved, but defenseman Ryan Turek followed the play to get the rebound and put it in the net. The goal was Turek's first of the playoffs. Victoria scored two unanswered second period goals to take a 2-1 lead into the final frame.

Both the Salmon Kings and Aces had chances early in the third as both goalies made saves to shut down the opposition's offense. Near the five minute mark, Victoria swarmed the net after a Josh Aspenlind wrist shot from the left faceoff circle, but Coleman was able to keep it out of the net. Few whistles highlighted the middle portion of the period as both teams created chances on net. At 8:13, Kissel fed Alaska defender Bryan Miller in the high slot. Miller snapped a shot past the glove of Shantz to tie the game with his first of the postseason. Just under four minutes later at 11:56, Howes skated down the left wing to the side of the net and found Swanson with a cross-crease pass. Swanson put the puck in the open net for his second goal of the playoffs to give Alaska the lead. The Salmon Kings responded at 14:30 after Chad Painchaud broke into the zone and from the left side spun around and threw the puck on net. While the puck travelled to the net Ryan MacMurchy got his stick on it to tip it past Coleman. The marker was the Victoria forward's first of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Both teams looked for the winning goal in the final minutes, but could not generate any quality scoring opportunities. The game was tied 3-3 after regulation and headed to overtime.

At the 2:15 mark of overtime, Chris Langkow found a bouncing puck in the slot and snapped a shot that Shantz made the initial save on. The puck floated over top of the goaltender and landed in the net as several players looked for the rebound in the crease. Aces 4 Salmon Kings 3 OT. Alaska leads the best-of-seven Western Conference Final 2-0.

Victoria went 0/1 = 0.0% on the power play, while Alaska was 1/4 = 25.0%. The Aces outshot the Salmon Kings 28-26.

Victoria returns home to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for games 3, 4 and 5 beginning Saturday, April 30th at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for all three home dates are on sale now and are available for as low as $5. The first 1,000 fans that attend each home game will also receive a complimentary white Salmon Kings' rally towel. Tickets are available in person at the Select Your Tickets Box Office, online at www.selectyourtickets.com or over the phone at 250-220-7777.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from April 29, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central