Salmon Kings Knocked off by Reign

December 29, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Tuesday night match-up the Victoria Salmon Kings returned to the Save-On-Foods Memorial seeking a fifth straight win this season against the Ontario Reign. David Shantz started for the Salmon Kings, while Kellen Briggs was given the nod by the Reign.

Victoria opened the scoring at the 6:35 mark as the Salmon Kings' top playmaker, Rob Hennigar, lit the lamp. Matt Siddall fed a pass from the left corner boards and found Hennigar in the slot where he fired a one-timer past Briggs for his fourth goal of the season. Less then two minutes later the Reign tied the game while on the man-advantage. Jeff Corey fired a shot from the slot that bounced off a Salmon Kings defender. Corey chased the puck down and this time his wrist shot found the mark behind Shantz. The goal was Corey's 10th of the campaign. Ontario took the lead at the 11:58 mark when Jordan Morrison won a draw back to Lane Caffaro at the blue line where he wristed a shot past Shantz. The marker was Caffaro's fourth of the year. The Reign extended their lead at the 13:16 mark as they registered their third goal in just over five minutes. Kyle Kraemer broke into the Salmon King's zone from the right side and attempted a pass to Chaz Johnson. The pass was broken up by Ryan Turek, but Kraemer quickly regained possession and finished the play with a shot that beat the glove Shantz for his fifth of the season. Later in the frame, Corey received a double-minor for high-sticking Derick Martin that put Victoria on the man-advantage. Just 27 seconds into the opportunity they would capitalize. P.J. Atherton's shot from the point was stopped by Briggs, but Siddall found the rebound and buried his team-leading 15th goal of the year. The first period ended with Ontario in front 3-2 over Victoria.

The Salmon Kings pressed hard to knot the score early in the second period. Both Tim Kraus and Atherton had shots go off the cross-bar. Victoria tied the game 4:32 into the period as Hennigar's cross-crease pass found the stick of Chad Painchaud. After he waited for the puck to settle onto his stick, Painchaud snapped a shot over the left shoulder of Briggs for his ninth of the season. The Reign exploded offensively in the middle of the frame as they scored three goals in 57 seconds. Chaz Johnson scored the first two goals and Morrison tallied the third as Ontario took a 6-3 lead into the intermission.

Victoria pushed hard in the final 20 minutes but was unable to comeback from the three-goal deficit. As Briggs stopped all 19 shots he faced in the frame including a tremendous stop on a one timer from Atherton in the slot. Tempers flared at the end of the game setting the stage for tomorrow night's rematch. Reign 6 Salmon Kings 3.

Victoria went 1/520.0% on the power play, while Ontario was 1/333.3%. The Salmon Kings out shot the Reign 50-28.

The Salmon Kings complete their two-game series against the Reign tomorrow night with puck drop at 7:05. For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com. Victoria then heads out on the road for a two-game set versus the Utah Grizzlies on Friday, December 31st and Saturday, January 1st with both games starting at 7:05 local time. To watch or listen live to Salmon Kings hockey visit www.salmonkings.com.



ECHL Stories from December 29, 2010


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