Salmon Kings Week in Review

Published on January 2, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - The Victoria Salmon Kings played the final week of the 2005 portion of the ECHL schedule in Anchorage, Alaska against the high flying Aces.

Alaska defeated Victoria in game one of the three game series 4-0. In game two Victoria scored four goals in the second period and evened the play but dropped the game, 6-5. The momentum started to swing the way of the Salmon Kings in game two and Victoria capitalized in game three on New Year's Eve. Victoria defeated Alaska in the third game of the series, 5-3.

Week in Review

Wednesday December 28, 2005 - @ Alaska - 4-0L

Friday December 30, 2005 - @ Alaska - 6-5L

Saturday December 31, 2005 - @ Alaska - 5-3W

Breakdown

WednesdayDecember28,2005-@Alaska-The Salmon Kings and Aces faced off on Wednesday night in front of the first sell-out crowd in Anchorage this season in a game the Aces defeated the Salmon Kings 4-0. It was the second time this season the Salmon Kings have been shut off the score board, both times they were playing against the Aces. Aces Goaltender Matt Underhill was outstanding stopping four Victoria breakaways. The first period was much closer than the 10-2 shot count might have box score readers believe, with Alaska heading into the dressing room at the first intermission with only Chris Minard's marker on the books. Alaska scored twice in the middle frame, first Minard notched his second of the night followed by Alex Leavitt's net rippler with 10 seconds left in the period. Barrett Heisten added to his team leading point totals in the third period, scoring the final goal of the game. Victoria finished zero for five on the man advantage while the Aces notched one of their five goals on the power-play. Goaltender David Currie was charged the loss for the Salmon Kings while Matt Underhill earned his third shut-out and 11th win of the season.

FridayDecember30,2005-@The Aces led the Salmon Kings 3-1 heading into the first intermission on goals by Olivier Filion, Chris Minard and Ryan Ramsey. Victoria's response came off a shot from Captain Ryan Wade shorthanded. Victoria awoke in the second period outscoring the Aces 4-2. The Salmon Kings got goals from Wade, Lanny Gare, Kurt Drummond and Jade Galbraith to send the teams to the second intermission with the score knotted at five. Victoria was unable to score the next goal in the third period. Ramsey notched his second of the night early in the final frame to lift the Aces over the Salmon Kings 6-5. The Salmon Kings came back twice in the second period from two goal deficits and beat Goaltender Matt Underhill five times. Underhill played outstanding in game one of the series and looked solid through the first 20 minutes in game two. He came unglued in the second period though and Victoria showed the fire power which has seemed to be so elusive of late. Victoria finished 2-9 on the powerplay while the Aces were 2-5. Alaska out-shot the Salmon Kings 30-29 in Underhill's twelfth win of the season. Goaltender Rob McVicar started the game for the Salmon Kings but was replaced by David Currie after Alaska's second goal in the first period. Currie was charged his fifth loss of the season in front of the second straight sell-out crowd at the Sullivan Arena.

SaturdayDecember31,2005-@Alaska-5-3W The Salmon Kings carried the momentum of Friday's close match-up into Saturday's game and led the Aces from start to finish. Victoria opened the scoring on the powerplay when Steve Lingren fired a shot from the point and Jade Galbraith buried the rebound. Salmon killer Chris Minard responded with a powerplay goal of his own before Mike Wirll and Ryan Wade extended the Salmon Kings lead to 3-1, after one. The score sheet was silent in the middle frame before a wild third period in which the Salmon Kings and Aces traded goals. Minard recorded his second of the night, and sixth of the three game series, before Victoria Defenseman Simon Mangos made the score 4-2. Aces Blueliner Peter Metcalf shrunk the Salmon Kings lead to just one, before Victoria Captain Ryan Wade iced Alaska with an empty net goal. Wade walked the puck into the net amongst the flying sticks of the Aces defense. Victoria finished one for seven on the powerplay while the Aces converted two of their seven opportunities with the man advantage. Salmon Kings Goaltender Rob McVicar earned his third win of the season while Aces Netminder Matt Underhill was charged his fourth loss. The Aces out-shot the Salmon Kings 29-20 in front of 5884 in the final game of 2005.

Stats Tracker

The Salmon Kings are led by Mike Wirll's nine goals and 21 assists for 30 points. Line mate Lanny Gare is three points back with nine goals and 18 assists for 27 points. Steve Lingren leads all Salmon Kings defensemen with 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points. Goaltender Rob McVicar earned his third win against the Aces on Saturday and now has a record of 3-4-0 with a 4.04 goals against average and .870 save percentage.

Up Coming

The Salmon Kings open the 2006 portion the ECHL schedule with a three game series against the Fresno Falcons starting on Thursday January 5, 2006 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Thursday January 5, 2006 - vs. Fresno Falcons Friday January 6, 2006 - vs. Fresno Falcons Saturday January 7, 2006 - vs. Fresno Falcons

Injured Reserve

30-day Forward Steve Roberts Goaltender Rob Muntain

7-day Defenseman Nate Forster Goaltender BJ Boxma

Transactions

12/28/2005 Add RYAN MCLEOD (F) signed contract

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