Shootout Showdown

January 28, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - Despite returning to Victoria for a three week home stint, the Salmon Kings still had to battle the Road. The Phoenix Roadrunners came to town and defeated the Salmon Kings in front of a crowd of 4,466-in the first ECHL shootout in the history of Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

Phoenix opened the scoring in the first period. Justin Quenneville snuck one by screened Netminder Rob McVicar at 5:43 into the period, and earned his third goal as a Roadrunner. Victoria matched Phoenix shot for shot but could not crack Goaltender Mike Mole. With 3:28 left in the first, Defenseman Shaun Fisher lit the lamp on the powerplay to give Phoenix the 2-0 edge.

Only moments after a goaltender change-BJ Boxma hit the ice in place of Rob McVicar-Fisher set up Jean-Francois Soucy for another Roadrunner powerplay goal to increase the lead to 3-0 with 2:08 left in the first frame.

ECHL All Star Adam Taylor started the Salmon King comeback early in the second period by capping off a two-on-one with a backhander goal from a K.C. Timmons' pass. Under four minutes later, Captain Ryan Wade closed the Salmon Kings within one in a game of tic-tac-toe with Lanny Gare and Steve Lingren. It was a 3-2 lead for Phoenix until Winger Joe Dusbabek scored the Roadrunners third powerplay goal of the game, and extended the lead by two with 8:28 remaining in the period.

Phoenix halted a five on three advantage by the Salmon Kings; however, Defenseman Nate Forster stepped up from the blue line and blasted a feed from Taylor to earn a Victoria goal with the five on four advantage. The Salmon Kings won the second period, outshooting the Roadrunners 12-9, scoring three goals, and climbing within one.

Fourteen seconds into the third period, Soucy was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for checking from behind, and Victoria capitalized on the ensuing powerplay. Victoria native Steve Roberts, in his fourth game of the season, tipped a Taylor shot taken from the top of the left circle.

Victoria took the 5-4 lead when Taylor found Roberts sneaking to the slot and led him to the crease. Roberts scored his second goal of the game and the season. It was also his second powerplay goal as the Roadrunners were battling a combined four minute roughing and unsportsmanlike conduct call.

With 7:42 remaining in the game, Phoenix Winger Mike Ouellet tied the game at five apiece. Boxma held off a Phoenix powerplay and sent the game into Overtime.

The five-minute four on four Overtime period witnessed opportunities on both sides of the puck, but some crowd pleasing saves from Boxma kept the Salmon Kings swimming.

For only the second time in Victoria Salmon King existence, the team lined up for a shootout.

Oullet was given the nod for the first spot on the Phoenix line up but was stopped as he tried to go right pad side on Boxma.

Roberts gave Victoria the shootout lead slipping a shot under the arm of Mole. Dusbabek evened out the shootout score, with a top corner goal.

The winning shootout goal came from the stick of Phoenix Forward Miguel Lafleche, who was shooter number four in the list of five.

The electrifying battle came to a close with the Salmon Kings going 3 for 5 on the powerplay and the Roadrunners hitting on four opportunities out of nine with the man advantage.

Mole recorded his ninth win of the season, while Boxma is given the overtime loss. Victoria outshot Phoenix 39 to 31.

The Salmon Kings faceoff against Phoenix for game two of the series at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets for all Salmon Kings home games are available from Select Your Tickets at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, online at www.selectyourtickets.com or by phone at 250-220-7777. To purchase Season, Half Season, Super Saturday's, Crazy Eight's, Mini-Packs or Group Ticket Packages please contact Devin Mazur at 250-220-7888 ext. 1.



ECHL Stories from January 28, 2006


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