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Salmon Kings win back to back in a goal fest

December 9, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC – After a tough game on Tuesday the Victoria Salmon Kings and the Bakersfield Condors were back at Bear Mountain Arena for the rubber match of a three game set. The Salmon Kings outlasted the first place Condors and sent them back to California with only two of a possible six points and the Kings finished their opening series unbeaten at home.

This is not the first taste of back to back victories for the Salmon Kings, they beat Idaho and Fresno a little over a month ago, but on Wednesday they showed the Victoria fans the grit and tenacity that can be expected from a team coached by Bryan Maxwell. The Kings survived two early deficits to go on to the 8-6 win.

Bakersfield coach Marty Raymond should be given full credit for the preparation of his team. The series was full of emotion and it could have gotten out of control, but the Condors remained disciplined and did not retaliate for the fiasco that occurred the night before.

Both teams looked lethargic in the first and it was clear the players didn't have their legs. It was the Condors who registered the first goal on the board 7:28 in. Kevin St. Jacques scored the unassisted marker through a crowd. Then just over two minutes later Brad Mehalko scored his team leading tenth of the season while on the penalty kill.

With the Condors up 2-0, the Salmon Kings power-play kept clicking, Ryan Wade notched his third of the season, from Corey Smith and Mike Barrie, and the Kings were down 2-1 at the end of twenty minutes of play.

It didn't take long for the Salmon Kings to tie it up. Thirty-one seconds into the second frame Nathan Forster scored his first of the campaign from Seth Leonard and Smith, and the near sell-out crowd were back on their feet.

5:21 into the second St. Jacques scored his second of the game on the man advantage and again the Condors had the lead. Six minutes later Brad Dexter's blast beat a shaky Yutaka Fukufuji and again the score was knotted, at three. The Kings had the momentum and did not let it shift back to the Condors, they scored two goals thirty-five seconds apart, Leonard with his third and Derek Campbell his first, and the Kings took the 5-3 lead into the intermission.

Raymond kept coaching though and the Condors came out in the third on fire. With sustained pressure in the offensive zone they were able to close the gap to one on an early goal by Captain Paul Rosebush. Then on the power-play they tied the game again on Mehalko's second, from St. Jacques and newcomer Frank DeFranza.

With the game tied at five with seven minutes left, fan favourite Dale Purinton, scored the game winner and his first as a Salmon King on a blast from the point. The shot had eyes as it went through five or six players on its way past Fukufuji. And then it became the Purinton show, he assisted Jeff Williams goal at 14:46 and the empty netter by Wade with under a minute left.

Purinton, who has become one of the Salmon Kings most reliable defenseman, was honoured with the games first star and his leadership has been noticeable on and off the ice. The Condors leave town with two straight losses, while the Salmon Kings are showing their home town fans some very exciting hockey. Something Victoria has yearned for over the past decade.

The Victoria Salmon Kings home-stand continues at Bear Mountain on Friday December 10, 2004 when they play first of three at home against the Mississippi Sea Wolves.

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