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Salmon Kings See Aces Sneak Out Shootout Victory

December 20, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


The much anticipated series between the Alaska Aces and the Victoria Salmon Kings kicked off tonight with a bang as the two teams met in Victoria for game one of a three game series.

The teams traded scoring opportunities from the drop of the puck, but it was the Salmon Kings who converted first as Marc-Andre Bernier notched his 10th goal of the season behind Aces goaltender Derek Gustafson at the 6:27 mark of the first frame.

Alaska used the goal as a wake-up call, as the Aces answered by putting three first period tallies behind Julien Ellis. Vladimir Novak scored the first goal for the Aces after being set up in the slot by Bo Cheesman. Tim Spencer scored the next two markers good for his second and third of the season. Alaska would go to the intermission up on the Kings by a score of 3 - 1.

After 10 scoreless minutes in the second period, the Salmon Kings collected a goal at 10:01 during a 5-on-3 power-play as Wes Goldie put his tenth of the season home. Assisting on the play were Gary Gladue and Marc-Andre Bernier.

With only 28 seconds left in the second period, Wes Goldie got sent in on a breakaway and ripped the puck over the shoulder of Derek Gustafson, turning the goal light on and erupting the home crowd of 5,560 into cheers. Upon further discussion the referee declared Goldie's shot was inconclusive. The Kings went to the locker room still down by one goal.

The Kings would need no review for their next shot as a minute into the third period Dylan Yeo tied the game on the power-play netting his fourth goal of the season. The goal came just three seconds into the man advantage and the assists went to Ryan Wade and Gary Gladue.

The rest of the third saw many tense moments for each team as chances came at both ends of the ice, but both Gustafson and Julien Ellis made key saves to send the game into overtime.

The extra frame saw some incredible end-to-end action with both teams coming mere inches away from putting the game away, but again both goalies stayed strong and sent this game the distance and into a shootout.

The Aces scored on all three of while the Kings were just able to put one behind Gustafson. The Aces pulled out a 4-3 victory.

The Kings went 1-6=16.7% on the power-play while Alaska went 0-6=0% on their attempts with the extra man. Both teams finished the game with 33 shots. Games two and three of the series go Friday and Saturday night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

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