Salmon Kings strengthen series with shoot out win

Published on February 24, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings, proud affiliate of the Manitoba Moose and the Vancouver Canucks, rebounded in the second game of the series at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre to post a 3-2 shoot out win and to force a rubber match against the Pacific division leading Las Vegas Wranglers.

Victoria took the 1-0 lead in the first period as F.P. Guenette scored his 11th goal of the season. Milan Gajic sparked a 2-on-2 by feeding Marc-Andre Bernier into the Wranglers zone, and Bernier lofted a pass from the right circle to Guenette along the left slot and he chipped the puck over the shoulder of Netminder Kevin Nastiuk.

Victoria Goaltender Julien Ellis notched 16 saves after two periods to keep the Salmon Kings in the one-goal advantage.

The third period witnessed a couple of swings of momentum as the Wranglers nabbed their first lead of the game. Las Vegas kept the puck in the Salmon Kings zone and Bryce Thomas fed Joe Tallari at the slot and his wristshot dribbled behind Ellis at 1:16 into the third stanza. Three minutes later, Marco Pelus carried the puck across the blueline and connected with Tyler Mosienko at the left circle. Mosienko moved the puck to his backhand to beat Ellis five-hole and give Las Vegas a 2-1 lead.

Victoria evened the score at 5:49 into the third with a charge to the Las Vegas net. From the right boards, Jordan Krestanovich passed to Wes Goldie in the right circle and he shuffled the puck to Kiel McLeod heading to the left post. McLeod tapped in the pass for the 2-2 tie.

Both goaltenders muffled scoring chances in the remainder of the final period of regulation, and the Salmon Kings and Wranglers head to their third overtime in their six season matchups.

Ellis made six saves in the overtime period, and both teams had to battle the powerplay to force a shoot out.

Gajic scored first as the Victoria shooter, beating Nastiuk five-hole, and Goldie followed swerving left and going top right corner for the Salmon Kings second goal of the shoot out. Ellis denied three rounds of Las Vegas shooters, but Mosienko slid the puck past the left pad of Ellis as the fourth shooter to keep the Wranglers alive. Ryan Wade posted his second goal in a shoot out against Las Vegas this season to bring the crowd of 4,103 to their feet and tie the three-game series.

Final: 3-2 Salmon Kings (Shoot Out)

Ellis earned his second shoot out win of the season and his 15th overall win, and Nastiuk was dealt his third shoot out loss of the season. Victoria was 0 for 7 on the powerplay and Las Vegas was 0 for 6 with the man advantage. The Salmon Kings outshot the Wranglers 43-33. The Salmon Kings (24-30-0-1) host the series rubber match against the Wranglers (29-10-6-7) at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre tomorrow at 7:05 p.m.

Individual game tickets for the 2006-07 regular season can be purchased at the Select Your Tickets Box Office at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Information on season tickets, half-season packages, flex packs, and other great ticket deals are available by calling (250) 220-2614.

Join the Salmon Kings for a celebration of music with the Victoria Symphony and students of Victoria School District 61 beginning at 2:30 p.m. on February 25th at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Players will welcome guests and sign autographs from 1:30 until the start of the show. Tickets are $5 student/child, $10 adult, $22 for a family (two adults, two children), and are available through Select Your Tickets by phone at (250) 220-7777, or online at www.selectyourtickets.com.

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ECHL Stories from February 24, 2007


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