Salmon Kings Fall to Aces in Game 1

April 28, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Anchorage, AK- In a Wednesday night matchup at the Sullivan Arena the Victoria Salmon Kings took on the Alaska Aces in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. Victoria gave David Shantz the start in net, while Alaska went with Gerald Coleman.

Both teams exchanged scoring chances early as each goaltender got into the game with several saves. Near the seven minute mark of the period while 4-on-4, Salmon Kings' forward Rob Hennigar located Chad Painchaud alone in front of the net. Painchaud was quickly tied up by an Alaska defender before he could get a shot off to negate the opportunity. Near the 10 minute mark the Aces received their first power play of the night. During the man advantage the Victoria penalty killers were able to shut down the neutral zone and keep the Aces to the outside to successfully kill off the penalty. The Salmon Kings controlled the majority of the play for the remainder of the period, but the Aces were able to notch a late marker to open the scoring. Chad Anderson cut in from the left side around a Victoria defender, before he crashed the net. With Shantz on the goal line the puck trickled over the goal at 19:55. The marker was Anderson's first of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Aces took a 1-0 lead into the second frame.

The Salmon Kings picked up the physical play early into the second period as both Tommy Maxwell and Josh Aspenlind laid out clean body checks on the first shift. On the same shift Victoria was able to lock the Aces in their zone as they cycled the puck and had multiple scoring chances. The Salmon Kings continued to pressure Alaska as Maxwell broke in on a 2-on-1 with defenseman Ryan Turek. Maxwell fired a pass across the crease to Turek from the left side, but the defender deflected it wide. Just under nine minutes into the frame Victoria received their first power play of the game. The Salmon Kings were able to generate a couple of shots on net off the man advantage, but Coleman was able to make the saves and keep it a 1-0 game. Minutes later, an Aces' defender put a puck on net that Shantz made the initial save on, but Turek was in the crease to glove the puck out of the air before it floated into the net. Alaska continued to hold their 1-0 lead after 40 minutes despite a strong period by Victoria.

The Aces started the period with an early opportunity to extend their lead. Brian Swanson broke in on a partial breakaway, but a strong defensive back check by forward Ryan Dingle negated the chance. Alaska shifted into a defensive style of play as they looked to protect their one goal lead. At 12:47 of the final period Hennigar broke in on a breakaway, but could not get a shot away. The Salmon Kings' forward retained the puck and put it on net as it bounced to the point. From the right point Jeff Caister put a puck through a maze of bodies and past Coleman for his third of the playoffs. Victoria used the momentum from the tying goal as they continued to control the play for the next several minutes. With 20 seconds left in the game Aces forward Wes Goldie stole the puck deep in the Victoria zone and fed Scott Howes alone in the slot. Howes put a quick shot on net, but Shantz slid across the make the key save. Off the ensuing faceoff, Scott Howes found the puck in the right faceoff circle and passed it to Swanson in the slot. The Alaska forward lifted the puck over the glove of Shantz at 19:51 to secure the winning goal. Aces 2 Salmon Kings 1

Victoria went 0/1 0.0% on the power play, while Alaska was 0/1 0.0%. The Aces outshot the Salmon Kings 29-26.

Game 2 of the Western Conference final between the Victoria Salmon Kings and Alaska Aces goes tomorrow at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. Puck drop is at 8:15 p.m. To watch or listen live to Salmon Kings' hockey, visit www.salmonkings.com. Victoria returns home to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for games 3, 4, 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. Tickets will be available in person at the Select Your Tickets Box Office, online at www.selectyourtickets.com or over the phone at 250-220-7777.



ECHL Stories from April 28, 2011


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