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Salmon Kings Fall to Thunder in Shootout

December 2, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Wednesday night match-up the Victoria Salmon Kings looked to get back on track when they faced the Pacific Division leading Stockton Thunder at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. The Salmon Kings started David Shantz in net, while Bryan Pitton was given the nod by the Thunder.

Victoria got off to a quick start when former Stockton Thunder player Ryan MacMurchy opened the scoring at the 3:14 mark. MacMurchy took a cross ice pass from Rick Cleaver and broke down the right wing. The Salmon Kings' forward went in on the breakaway after a Thunder defender lost his footing. MacMurchy faked going to the backhand through the slot, and instead lifted a quick wrist shot top corner for the 1-0 lead. The marker was MacMurchy's seventh of the campaign. The Thunder knotted the game at the 13:45 mark while on the power play. Chris Lawrence pulled the puck out of the left wing corner and fed a pass to the top of the right circle to Mark Arcobello who slid down from the right point. Arcobello snapped a shot top corner glove side past a screened Shantz to tie the game. The Thunder would capture the lead with 2:48 remaining in the frame. Steve Vanoosten took a pass at the right point and let a shot fly that slithered through a maze of bodies and beat Shantz. The Thunder led 2-1 after the first period.

A back-and-forth period saw both teams get chances in the early going. Tempers rose when the Salmon Kings' veteran forward Garth Murray and Thunder rookie defenseman Cameron Brodie decided to drop the mitts. The two players tied each other up, but Murray was able to unload a series of rights. Brodie countered with a couple of left hooks including a haymaker that didn't connect. The decision would go to the Victoria veteran. Shantz held the Thunder at bay with a series of saves including a right pad save on Thunder forward Fraser Clair. Bryan Pitton made a beautiful blocker save on Chad Painchaud to keep the Thunder up by one, but on the same shift just moments later the Salmon Kings would tie the game. Victoria continued to apply pressure when Rob Hennigar found himself with the puck just in behind and to the right of the Stockton net. Hennigar reached around, on what appeared to be a wrap-around attempt, but instead the crafty Kings' forward passed the puck to Matt Siddall who charged off the left wing wall. Siddall took the pretty pass and fired home the one timer into the gaping net to tie the game 2-2. That would be the score through 40 minutes.

The Salmon Kings pressed hard through the first half of the final frame as they held the Thunder without a shot for over eight minutes. Pitton denied Victoria an opportunity to gain an advantage on the scoreboard when he performed acrobatic glove save to turn away Geoff Waugh who was breaking in from the right side. Moments later, Shantz stole an opportunity from Stockton when Lawrence found himself alone in the slot with the puck. He fired a wrist shot, but the Kings' keeper swallowed it up. The period would remain scoreless as both teams pressed for the equalizer, but this game would require overtime.

The Salmon Kings went passed 60 minutes for the first time this year. Victoria had the best opportunity of the extra frame when Rick Cleaver fed a pass to Siddall in the slot. Siddall blasted a one-timer, but Pitton kicked out his left leg to keep the game even. The game would remain tied and head to a shootout. In the shootout, Stockton players Dan Ringwald, Arcobello and Lawrence put shots past Shantz, while Milan Gajic was the lone Victoria shooter to light the lamp. Chad Painchaud rang one off the crossbar to end the shootout. Thunder 3 Salmon Kings 2

Victoria went 0/300.0% on the power play, while Stockton was 1/333.3%. The Thunder outshot the Salmon Kings 36-31.

The Salmon Kings continue their three-game series with the Thunder Friday, December 3rd and Saturday, December 4th at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Game-time is 7:05 pm for both games. For this Friday's game, fans can purcahse $5 tickets for sections 105 and 113. This offer is available for one game only, but there is no limit on how many you can buy! Saturday's game will mark the Salmon Kings' fifth annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring new teddy bears to the game and throw their stuffed animals onto the ice after the Salmon Kings' first goal. Ticket and teddy bear vouchers are also available for just $24! For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.

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