Salmon Kings drop home finale to Steelheads

Published on March 22, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Sunday afternoon matchup, the Victoria Salmon Kings and Idaho Steelheads met in the finale of a four-game set, and the final regular season home game at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Goaltender Todd Ford started in net for the Salmon Kings, while the Steelheads countered with Matt Climie.

The Steelheads were quick to pick up where they left off the previous night, tallying the opening goal on their first shot 5:13 into the first period. Forward Bryan McGregor took a lead pass into the offensive zone from Tyler Shelast and put a wrist shot from the left wing off the top corner of the post and into the net past Ford's glove. McGregor's goal was his team-leading 27th of the season, and proved to be the lone marker of the period. The Steelheads took to the first intermission with a 1-0 lead.

Idaho doubled their lead at the 11:36 mark of the second period, when McGregor tipped a Kyle Radke shot over Ford's glove. The Salmon Kings cut the deficit back to one goal shortly after. At 15:03, Olivier Filion controlled a loose rebound off a point-shot from defenseman Matt Kelly and backhanded his 12th goal of the year over Climie. Filion's goal would round out the second period scoring, as the Steelheads skated into the intermission ahead 2-1.

The Steelheads played a solid defensive third period to keep the Salmon Kings at bay, and Brent Shepheard scored an empty-net goal with 53 seconds remaining to put Idaho up 3-1. Wes Goldie would add a late powerplay marker, his team-leading 47th goal of the season, with 12 seconds remaining to pull the Salmon Kings back within a goal, but McGregor would complete the hat-trick with Idaho's second empty-net goal at 19:54 to secure a Steelheads victory. Steelheads 4 Salmon Kings 2.

Victoria finished 2/8 = 25.0% on the power play, while Idaho finished 1/5= 20.0%. The Salmon Kings outshot the Steelheads 23-18.

The Salmon Kings now hit the road for the final four games of the regular season before the beginning of the 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Victoria visits the Stockton Thunder this Tuesday, March 24th, before two games in Bakersfield on Wednesday, March 25th and Friday, March 27th. The Salmon Kings wrap-up their regular season back in Stockton with a game versus the Thunder on Saturday, March 28th. Puck drop for all four games is 7:05 p.m. PST. For information regarding Salmon Kings 2009 Kelly Cup Playoff tickets call 220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.

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