Salmon Kings Tie Franchise Mark With 12th Straight Home Victory

January 28, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Tuesday night match-up the Victoria Salmon Kings and Stockton Thunder met for the first of their two-game set. Goaltender Todd Ford started in net for the Kings while the Thunder countered with Bryan Pitton.

The Salmon Kings opened the scoring 12:55 into the first period. Jordie Benn made a stretch pass down the right wing to Dan Gendur, his initial wrist shot from just above the circle was saved by Pitton, but Gendur stuck with the puck and put a backhand shot into the back of the net. Salmon Kings make it 2-0 when Matt Kelly and Olivier Filion made a few passes to one another before finding Wes Goldie in the slot to wrist home his 35th of the season. Just as a Salmon Kings' power play came to an end, Olivier Labelle was sent in on a breakaway from a pass by Filion. Labelle went to his backhand and snuck it in under the pads of Pitton. At the end of the first the Salmon Kings lead 3-0.

Early in the second the Thunder cut the deficit to two when Damien Surma lifted a backhand shot over a diving Ford. Sebastien Bisaillon brought the Thunder to within one when he fired a shot from the point that found the bottom left corner. The Salmon Kings restored their lead to two when Scott Howes tipped in a rocket centering pass from Gendur out of the right wing corner. Goldie wristed his second of the game and his 36th of the season when he was sent in by Kelly on a breakaway while the Salmon Kings were shorthanded. The Thunder would respond mere moments later when Mike Lalonde was left alone in front and received a centering pass from James Bates out of the left wing corner. Lalonde lifted the backhander up and over Ford. The Kings went to the locker room up 5-3 after 40 minutes.

The Salmon Kings started the scoring in the third when Daryl Lloyd sent Curtis Billsten on a partial breakaway. Billsten didn't think twice in taking a slap-shot from the right wing as he fired it by Pitton. Salmon Kings made it a 7-3 game when Dan Gendur came down the right wing, faked a shot and drew both the defender and goalie out and then slipped a pass to Howes for the easy tip in. Salmon Kings 7 Thunder 3.

Victoria went 2/6= 33% on the power play and Stockton ended 1/5= 20%. The Salmon Kings out-shot the Thunder 33-30.

This win marks Victoria's 12th straight home victory, which ties a franchise mark set in 1988-89.

The Salmon Kings and Thunder meet tomorrow night to conclude this two-game set with puck drop at 7:05 p.m. The Kings return to action on Wednesday February 4th when Las Vegas comes to town for a four-game set. Tickets available at www.selectyourtickets.com.



ECHL Stories from January 28, 2009


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