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Salmon Kings spark series with overtime victory

November 17, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Manitoba Moose and the Vancouver Canucks, hosted the Pacific Division leading Stockton Thunder for game one of a two game series at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Two NHL contracted goaltenders, Julien Ellis of the Vancouver Canucks and Devan Dubnyk of the Edmonton Oilers, squared off in an Overtime battle. Ellis came out on top with 50 saves and the Salmon Kings earned the 4-3 victory.

Both teams stormed the boards in the first period, but Victoria struck first with 18 seconds remaining. Wes Goldie earned his seventh goal of the season, finishing off a 3-on-2 rush. Kiel McLeod carried the puck out of the Victoria zone and passed to David Wrigley who fed Goldie in front of the crease for the chip in past Dubnyk. The Salmon Kings held the 1-0 lead after the first, despite being outshot 14-8.

Ryan Wade scored his seventh point of the season just thirty two seconds into the second stanza for the 2-0 Victoria lead. After an Ellis save, the Salmon Kings dumped the puck into Thunder territory and Wade chased it down and finished with a wraparound on Dubnyk.

Stockton scored two consecutive goals, one in the second period and the next in the third, to tie the game 2-2. Tyler Spurgeon earned his third goal of the season, chalking up a shorthanded goal with 4:21 remaining in the second, and Liam Reddox scored his first pro goal during a 4-on-4, with a far-side top-shelf wrist shot.

At 9:41 into the third period, Darryl Lloyd gave Victoria the 3-2 lead in a 2-on-1 breakaway with Milan Gajic. Gajic picked up a lofty pass from F.P. Guenette and carried it to the left circle, put on the brakes and spotted a trailing Lloyd in the slot. Lloyd tapped in the pass and posted his fourth goal of the season. Stockton winger Mike Lalonde forced the overtime period with forty-five seconds remaining in regulation. With the Thunder net empty, Stockton capitalized on the 6-on-5 advantage as Lalonde chipped in a bouncing puck through a crowd at the Victoria crease.

For the fourth time this season, the Salmon Kings head into extra periods. Ellis made five saves and rookie defenseman Seamus Young scored the game winner with two seconds remaining in OT. Young found the yawning cage after a rebound from Guenette's shot in a Victoria 3-on-2 rush, and earned his third goal of the season.

Final score: 4-3 Victoria, OT

Ellis earned his fourth straight win (a Salmon Kings record) and Dubnyk was handed his first OT loss. Victoria was 0 for 6 on the power play and Stockton went 0 for 4 with the man advantage. The Thunder outshot the Salmon Kings 53-22. Victoria (6-5-1) hits the ice again tomorrow for game two against the Stockton Thunder (6-1-2) at 7:05 p.m. at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

NOTES:

-Salmon Kings have a .542 winning percentage and move up to third spot in the West Division.

-Seamus Young leads rookies on the team in scoring (6 points).

-Julien Ellis set a season record 50 saves, and has made 208 saves in five games (0.929 save percentage).

-Milan Gajic posted his fourth multi-point game of the season

For Salmon Kings single game tickets or other package deals, call (250) 220-7777. We're ready for hockey. How about you?



ECHL Stories from November 17, 2006


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