Salmon Kings secure undefeated road trip

Published on January 28, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Long Beach, CA - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Manitoba Moose and the Vancouver Canucks, earned an undefeated road trip with a 6-3 victory over the Ice Dogs, and posted a team record with four straight wins.

Long Beach scored a pair of goals in the midway of the first period to take the 2-0 lead. At 9:23 into the first, the Ice Dogs followed a successful penalty kill as Chris Collins skated down the right boards and his left-handed wristshot beat Netminder Bryan Bridges farside. One minute later, Defenseman Jeff Mason capitalized on a powerplay as he knocked in a rebound from a Ryan Bennett shot.

Victoria battled back and Jordan Krestanovich earned his ninth goal of the season. Defenseman Matt Kelly drove into the Long Beach zone and took a shot from the right slot, and the rebound was picked up and put in by Krestanovich. With just two seconds left, the Salmon Kings tied the game 2-2 as Steve Lingren kept the puck along the right boards during a powerplay in the Long Beach zone. Lingren threw the puck in front of the net and Kiel McLeod reached out to slide the puck under the butterfly of Goaltender Mike Brown for his 20th of the season.

Victoria nabbed the 3-2 lead in the second frame and Marc-Andre Bernier earned his fifth goal in three games. Bernier rifled a shot from the top of the right circle to handcuff Brown farside and top corner. Long Beach elected to replace Brown with Netminder Brett Jaeger.

The first shot on Jaeger, at 3:58 into the second, gave the Salmon Kings a two-goal advantage. Ryan Wade carried the puck towards the left corner and took a wristshot, which squeezed through Jaeger on the nearside.

With 8:51 remaining in the middle frame, Ryan Bennett's swing-around shot from the left circle beat a screened Bridges and the Ice Dogs made it a one-goal game, 4-3. The Salmon Kings, however, scored the only goals in the third period to secure the win.

Defenseman Phil Cole muscled the puck away from Long Beach's David Walker in Ice Dog territory and found the mesh on the low side left corner. Milan Gajic tallied his 14th goal of the season with 8:17 remaining in the game. On a Victoria powerplay, Wade sent the puck to the corner, and F.P. Guenette spotted Gajic alone on the doorstep for the 6-3 lead.

Final: 6-3 Salmon Kings

Bridges brags his seventh win of the season, and third straight win as a starter, and Jaeger was given the decision for his 14th loss. Victoria went 2 for 9 on the powerplay and Long Beach was 1 for 5 with the man advantage. The Salmon Kings outshot the Ice Dogs 42-28.

The Salmon Kings (18-26-0-1) will have a home and home series versus the Idaho Steelheads (22-16-2-1), starting in Victoria on Friday, February 2nd at 7:05 p.m.

Notes:

- The Salmon Kings set a team record with four straight wins.

- The Salmon Kings have won in their last three visits to Long Beach; are 5-2 versus the Ice Dogs for the season.

- Kiel McLeod is on a five-game point streak (3g, 2a).

- Marc-Andre Bernier is on a three-game goal streak and point streak (5g, 2a).

- Wes Goldie is on a four-game point streak (4g, 1a).

- Milan Gajic earned his 100th pro point in his 100th pro game.

- Ryan Wade tallied his 150th pro point and ECHL point.

The Victoria Salmon Kings welcome the Scout and Girl Guide members, family, and friends to their next home game on February 2nd. Members receive a badge with the purchase of a game ticket. Contact 220-2614 for more information.

The Salmon Kings and B2 Networks are broadcasting home games via the internet. Visit www.salmonkings.com for the link to pay-per-view video or free audio feeds ten minutes prior to game time.

The Mini-Martys are here! Purchase a stuffed toy Marmot from Kings Things located at Gate 3, and $1 will be donated to the Marmot Recovery Foundation.

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ECHL Stories from January 28, 2007


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