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Salmon Kings Drop Thunder, Extend Home Winning

December 17, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Wednesday night matchup the Victoria Salmon Kings and Stockton Thunder met in the first of a three-game set at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Victoria's David Shantz got the nod in net while Stockton started Bryan Pitton.

The Salmon Kings opened the scoring just 20 seconds into the game when Scott Howes scored his seventh goal of the season. Adam Taylor picked up a loose puck at centre ice and broke down the right-wing boards into the offensive zone. The Salmon Kings forward fired a shot from the top of the right face-off circle that was saved by the right pad of Pitton. The rebound came out to the slot where Howes fired the rebound past a diving Pitton and into the back of the net. The Thunder would tie the game at the 2:41 mark when J.F. Caudron pounced on a rebound at the left side of the goal and fired a quick shot that beat Shantz blocker side. Victoria would retake the lead on a strange goal just 56 seconds later. Randall Gelech took a shot from the high slot that soared over the net and then bounced high off the glass behind Pitton. The puck flew off the glass directly back at the Stockton goalkeeper and bounced off his back and into the cage. Stockton knotted up the game when a Kenny MacAulay shot from the left-point hit a Salmon King defender in front of the net and found the top corner of the net past Shantz's glove. The Salmon Kings took a 3-2 lead with 1:50 left in the period when Dirk Southern came out of the left corner and curled into the left face-off circle. The Victoria forward fired the puck over Pitton's right shoulder for his third goal of the campaign. The Salmon Kings skated into the intermission with a 3-2 edge.

Olivier Latendresse would extend Victoria's advantage to two, when off a turnover he made a nice backhand to forehand move to slide the puck under Pitton's left pad. Chad Painchaud would increase the Salmons Kings lead after receiving a cross ice pass from Gelech. The Salmon Kings forward kicked a bouncing puck to his stick and fired home his 10th goal of the season. Victoria kept the goals coming at 16:42 when Latendresse fed a saucer pass to Wes Goldie who one-timed it past the blocker of the Thunder goaltender. Latendresse would notch his second goal of the evening on the power play with 29 seconds remaining in the middle frame. Latendresse skated into the offensive zone on a three-on-two, cut into the slot with the puck, patiently out waited Pitton and then slid the rubber between the netminder's legs. Victoria headed into the final period of play with a 7-2 advantage.

Andrew Perugini would start the third period in net for the Thunder, who put 13 shots on Shantz but could not close the gap in a scoreless frame. Salmon Kings 7 Thunder 2.

Victoria went 1/616.7% on the power play while Stockton was 0/40.0%. The Salmon Kings outshot the Thunder 36-29.

The Victoria Salmon Kings and Stockton Thunder continue their three-game set with contests on Friday and Saturday nights. Puck drop for both games is at 7:05 p.m. For both games fans will have the opportunity to get their Christmas photo taken with Marty the Marmot! All proceeds will go towards the Mustard Seed with photos being taken by Japan Camera. For tickets, call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.

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