Salmon Kings Fall To Wranglers In Overtime

Published on December 2, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


[Las Vegas, NV - In a Tuesday night matchup the Victoria Salmon Kings and Las Vegas Wranglers met in the first of a three-game set at the Orleans Arena. Victoria's David Shantz started in net while Las Vegas countered with Billy Sauer.

Despite being outshot 7-0 early in the period, the Salmon Kings were the lone team to hit the scoreboard in the opening frame at 15:50. Captain Wes Goldie placed himself in the slot in front of Sauer and received a pass from Dirk Southern behind the net and buried his team leading seventh goal of the year in the top corner of the net past the goaltender's glove. Shantz made 14 first period saves to allow Victoria to take their 1-0 lead into the opening intermission.

Randall Gelech gave the Salmon Kings a 2-0 lead just 1:03 into the second period when he took a cross-ice feed from Olivier Latendresse into the left faceoff circle and wired his third goal of the season past Sauer. The Wranglers got on the board at the 6:15 mark, when off a faceoff, Craig Switzer fired a shot from the left point that Shantz made a save on, but the rebound popped out to Francis Lemieux who beat the Salmon Kings goaltender to make it a 2-1 Victoria advantage. Near the midway point of the frame, both the Salmon Kings and Vegas traded disallowed goals to keep the score 2-1 Victoria in the later stages of the period. Southern regained the Salmon Kings' two goal advantage at 17:55 when off a turnover the Victoria forward streaked into the offensive zone and fired a slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle that beat Sauer's blocker into the net. The Salmon Kings would take their 3-1 lead heading into the third period.

The Wranglers cut into the Salmon Kings lead at 14:37 of the final period when Kyle Hagel, streaking down the left wing, squeaked a quick snap shot past Shantz. Hagel's second goal of the season was initially waved off as the referee's had believed the net to be knocked off, but an official's review granted the Wranglers the goal to put them back within one at 3-2. Las Vegas pulled Sauer in the final minute of the game and were rewarded with just 13.5 seconds left in regulation as Switzer's slap shot from the right point found its way through traffic in front of the net and beat Shantz. Switzer's goal was his second tally of the campaign and would send the contest into overtime.

With the Wranglers on the power play in the extra frame, Lemieux tipped home an Adam Miller point shot in front of the net and past Shantz at 3:40 to give the Wranglers the victory. Las Vegas 4 Victoria 3.

The Salmon Kings went 0/40% on the power play and the Wranglers went 1/425.0%. Las Vegas outshot Victoria 33-29.

The Salmon Kings and Wranglers continue their three-game set on Thursday, December 3rd, and Friday, December 4th. Puck drop for both games is 7:05 p.m. The Salmon Kings then travel to Ontario to face the Reign on Sunday, December 6th at 5:00 p.m. Victoria returns to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre next week versus the Wranglers for a three-game set with contests on Thursday, December 10th, Friday, December 11th, and Saturday, December 12th. Puck drop for all three games is 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.

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