Salmon Kings Held up by Condors

March 24, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Bakersfield, CA - In a Wednesday night matchup at the Rabobank Arena, the Victoria Salmon Kings took on the Bakersfield Condors as they looked to clinch a Kelly Cup Playoff spot for the fifth straight season. The Salmon Kings gave David Shantz the start in net, while the Condors countered with Brian Stewart.

Bakersfield had the best opportunity in the opening minutes of the game after Adam Naglich broke through the defence for the partial breakaway. The Condors' forward went to his backhand, but Shantz followed the puck to make the save. After an unfortunate bounce off a Victoria defender as the Salmon Kings looked to clear their zone, Jean-Marc Beaudoin came out from the left half boards and wired a slap shot from the high slot past the glove of Shantz. The marker was Beaudoin's sixth of the year at 4:22. The next 10 minutes saw very few whistles as the Salmon Kings looked to even the score. Midway through the period, Matt Stefanishion caught Stephane Goulet with a huge hit by the Condors' blue line. Only minutes later the Salmon Kings would count their first of the game while 4-on-4. Milan Gajic burst down the left hand side on a 2-on-1 with Chad Painchaud. Gajic threw the puck over to his teammate, but a Condors' defender blocked the pass that then bounced on the stick on Jeff Caister. The Salmon Kings' defender fired the puck over to a wide open Painchaud to the right of the crease, who made no mistake as he put the puck past an out of position Stewart. Painchaud's goal was his team-leading 23rd of the season at 13:35. Victoria headed into the second period on the power play as the game was tied 1-1.

Victoria applied continuous pressure on the man advantage to open the period, but Stewart was able to shut the door. Just over five minutes into the frame a Bakersfield forward fired the puck over to Naglich, but Shantz went right to left to rob Naglich with his right pad at the side of the net. After the save, Salmon Kings' forward Tommy Maxwell threw a perfect stretch pass to Kiel McLeod to send him in on the breakaway. McLeod deked to his backhand, but sent the puck just over the net. Shantz continued his stellar play after he made several high quality saves on the Bakersfield shooters. With Shantz standing tall in the net, the Salmon Kings had several chances to take the lead but could not find a way beat Stewart. In the final minute of the period Condors' captain Andrew Ianiero put the puck on net from the left side that Shantz saved, but the rebound popped out to Goulet in the slot. The Condors' forward fired the puck over the left shoulder of Shantz at 19:41 for his team leading 24th. Bakersfield took their 2-1 lead into the second period.

Victoria applied pressure early in the frame and were rewarded with a power play opportunity. The Salmon Kings banked two odd man rushes on the man advantage, but could not count the tying goal. Victoria continued to control the majority of the play for the opening 10 minutes. Just past the halfway point of the period, the Salmon Kings received another power play as they buzzed inside the Condors' zone with immense pressure. Despite the offensive push by Victoria, the Condors' defence and goaltending were able to deny the Salmon Kings once again on the power play. Bakersfield hung onto the lead late in the frame as they played a defensive style of hockey while the Salmon Kings continued to press. Victoria pulled Shantz with just over a minute remaining, but could not find the needed goal. Condors 2 Salmon Kings 1.

The Salmon Kings remain one victory, or one Ontario regulation loss, short of the final 2011 Kelly Cup Playoff berth. Victoria has six games remaining in the regular season, while Ontario has five.

Victoria went 0/6 0.0% on the power play, while Bakersfield was 0/2 0.0%. The Salmon Kings outshot the Condors 38-32.

Victoria now travels to Stockton to play a three game set against the Thunder. Game one goes Friday night at 7:30 pm, while game two and three are Saturday night and Sunday afternoon respectively. To watch or listen live to Salmon Kings hockey visit www.salmonkings.com. The Salmon Kings return home to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre Wednesday March 30th for the first of a three game series. Game two goes Friday April 1st, while game three is on Saturday April 2nd. Game time for all three games is at 7:05. On Friday's game be a part of "Fan Zone Friday", and the push into the 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs with a $5 ticket offer that is being opened for all seats in end-zone sections 105 and 113. There is no minimum or maximum ticket purchase required, so make sure to get your tickets now before the limited amount available are sold out! For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.



ECHL Stories from March 24, 2011


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