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Salmon Kings faced fight or flight against the Falcons

December 17, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Fresno, CA - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Manitoba Moose and the Vancouver Canucks, soared into Fresno to face the Falcons to complete their three road game in three days tour. The goaltenders remained steady as the Sunday afternoon game in front of 3,913 fans at the Save Mart Centre was not decided until the end of the final period.

It was a neutral zone battle in the first period until Fresno Centre Josh Prudden scored his sixth goal of the season for the Falcons 1-0 lead. Prudden finished a 2-on-1 press by going top shelf from the left circle on Goaltender Bryan Bridges with 4:29 remaining in the first.

Victoria countered on the powerplay in the second period and tied the game 1-1. Mike Stutzel led F.P. Guenette across the blueline, and Guenette kicked the puck from his left skate to his stick and gained team-leading scorer title with a tough angle wristshot from the right circle on the short side of Netminder Dmitri Patzold.

The shots picked up in the back half of the game, and the Falcons awakened the crowd at the 13:52 mark of the third period. Defenseman Pierre-Olivier Beaulieu gave Fresno the 2-1 advantage with a wraparound goal. John Morlang added an open net goal for Fresno with 33 seconds left in the game to secure the victory and hand Victoria its fourth straight loss.

Final Score: 3-1 Fresno

Patzold grabbed his second win of the season, and Bridges was edged for his fifth loss. Victoria scored once in three powerplay opportunities and Fresno was held scoreless on four chances with the man advantage. The Falcons outshot the Salmon Kings 30-25.

Victoria (9-15-0-1) will take a breath before a round two meeting with Phoenix (14-11-1-0) in their 15-day road trip. The Roadrunners host the Salmon Kings on Dec 21 and Dec 23 at the US Airways Centre, both games begin at 7:11 (MT).

NOTES:

- Despite the loss, Bryan Bridges earned a 0.931 save percentage, his second best of the season.

- Mike Stutzel is on a four-game point streak (1g, 3 a).

- Ryan Wade is on five-game point streak (5 assists).

Get your Salmon Kings stocking stuffers today! The gift package includes four game vouchers and two Salmon Kings hats for only $60! Call (250) 220-7777.



ECHL Stories from December 17, 2006


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