Salmon Kings sink Grizzlies

March 18, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Manitoba Moose and the Vancouver Canucks, trapped the rubber match against the Utah Grizzlies in front of 4,847 fans on Sunday afternoon and defended their seventh playoff spot with the 4-1 victory.

Utah Defenseman James Sanford, who was assigned by the American Hockey League's Milwaukee Admirals on Friday, opened the scoring on a Grizzlies powerplay. Sanford finished a feed from Jimmie Kraft at the left circle to beat Netminder Bryan Bridges gloveside and Utah held the 1-0 lead after the first period.

Victoria earned a powerplay goal to kick off the second stanza and tie the game 1-1. From the left boards, Milan Gajic moved the puck to Marc-Andre Bernier in the left corner, and Bernier spotted a pinching Steve Lingren at the right post for his sixth goal of the season.

In the Salmon Kings fifth penalty kill of the game, Ryan Wade scored his second shorthanded goal of the season and gave Victoria the 2-1 lead. Wes Goldie blocked a Utah pass attempt at the point and jumped into a 2-on-1 rush with Wade, and Wade knocked in the pass at the right slot with 2:51 remaining in the period.

Victoria padded their lead in the final frame as Matt Kelly earned his second goal of the series with 3:27 remaining, and Milan Gajic tallied his 18th goal of the season in a 5-on-3 Salmon Kings powerplay with a slapshot from the right point in the final minute.

Bridges earned the first star of the game with a 0.966 save percentage and Victoria moved ahead 3-2-0 in the season series, which continues in Utah starting March 28th.

Final: 4-1 Salmon Kings

Bridges posted his ninth win of the season, and Gray suffered his ninth loss. Victoria was 2 for 8 on the powerplay and Utah was 1 for 8 with the man advantage. The Salmon Kings outshot the Grizzlies 33-29. The Salmon Kings (28-32-1-3) welcome the National Conference's tenth ranked Long Beach Ice Dogs (23-35-0-3) at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for a two game series starting Friday March 23rd.



ECHL Stories from March 18, 2007


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