Salmon Kings Knocked off by Aces

March 13, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Anchorage, AK- In a Saturday night contest at the Sullivan Arena, the Victoria Salmon Kings took on the Western Conference leading Alaska Aces in the finale of a three-game series. The Salmon Kings went with Manitoba Moose contracted goaltender David Shantz between the pipes, while the Aces countered with Gerald Coleman in net.

The Salmon Kings entered tonight's contest shorthanded with a lineup of nine forwards and five defenseman. Victoria came out with a strong effort to open the game, but the Aces counted the first quality scoring chance. Wes Goldie moved into the right wing on a 2-on-1 alongside Scott Howes and fed his teammate with a saucer pass. Howes' quick attempt on net was turned aside by the right shoulder of the Victoria netminder. The Salmon Kings countered on the next shift as Rob Hennigar cut into the slot off a rush down the left wing and was denied in the crease by Coleman's glove. The Aces received two power play opportunities in the opening 10 minutes, but it was the Salmon Kings who nearly opened the scoring. Victoria's best shorthanded opportunity came when Hennigar forced a turnover in the neutral zone and moved in on a breakaway. The Salmon Kings' alternate captain put a quick wrist shot on net from the slot but was denied by the right pad of Coleman. The quick pace of the period slowed down in the final half of the frame as both teams engaged in a defensive style of play. While Alaska had a third man advantage in the final minute of the period, Victoria once again countered with a breakaway opportunity. As the seconds wound down in the frame, Matt Butcher stole the puck just inside the offensive blue line and was denied on his shot by Coleman's right pad. Butcher drew a hooking penalty on the play to Mark Isherwood as both teams headed to the second period in a scoreless tie.

The teams began the period with four skaters on the ice, but the Aces were awarded early calls to give them consecutive 5-on-3 advantages. Shantz kept the home side at bay with five quality saves during the two-man advantages. As the second 5-on-3 ended, Isherwood fired a pass from the slot to the goal line at the left side for Tyler Ruegsegger. The Aces' forward one-timed the puck past Shantz at 3:59 for his 16th goal of the year. The Salmon Kings regained momentum midway through the period as they utilized a power play to keep the Aces back in their own zone. As Victoria pushed for the game-tying goal, Alaska doubled their lead on the power play at the 13 minute mark. Goldie fed Scott Howes a backhand pass from behind the net into the slot, who in turn snapped a shot that beat Shantz's glove and off the post into the net. Howes' goal was his 19th of the year. Victoria picked up the pace once again following the marker as the teams engaged in back-and-forth play. On a transition play, Matt Siddall cleared the puck off an Aces' player right to Chad Painchaud behind the defence in the neutral zone. Painchaud took the puck in stride on a breakaway and beat Coleman glove side with a shot at 16:15 for his 19th of the campaign. Both teams exchanged late breakaway chances but both Goldie and Salmon Kings' rookie Scott Freeman were denied by the opposing netminders. The Aces took their 2-1 lead into the third period.

The Salmon Kings looked to draw even early in the third period as Butcher received his second shorthanded breakaway, but Coleman once again denied the Victoria rookie. Ryan Dingle kept the pressure on the Aces just minutes later as he ripped a slap shot off the post. Victoria continued their momentum and nearly tied the game midway through the period on a power play with a goalmouth scramble, but Coleman was first to find the puck in the crease and end the play. As the visiting squad looked to keep up their pressure, the Aces countered and peppered Shantz with five shots in the span of a few minutes. The Victoria netminder was equal to each opportunity and kept the Salmon Kings in the game. While the goaltending duel in the final period continued, Victoria dominated the final five minutes of the game as they forced Coleman to make several key saves. With a minute left to play and an extra attacker on the ice, the Salmon Kings had the Aces hemmed in their own zone as they looked to even the score. Goldie secured the win for the Aces with an empty net goal as the home side relieved the late pressure. Aces 3 Salmon Kings 1.

Victoria went 0/5 0.0% on the power play, while Alaska finished 2/10 20.0%. The Aces outshot the Salmon Kings 31-26.

The Salmon Kings now return home to the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Wednesday March 16th to kick off a three game set against the Utah Grizzlies. Game two goes Friday, March 18th, while the third contest is on Saturday, March 19th. Puck drop for all three games is 7:05 pm. For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.



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