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Skating on Fumes

March 26, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Fort Myers, FL – And so ends the second of two epic road trips for the Victoria Salmon Kings. Fifteen days of wandering, ends in Florida on Saturday against the Everblades. The Salmon Kings defeated Florida Friday to even the season series at a game a piece.

Saturday started as did Friday. At 2:27 of the opening period Brent McDonald scored his twentieth of the 2004-05 campaign, from Steve Saviano and Simon Trembley. Two and a half minutes later Florida struck for the second time. Kris Vernarsky worked the puck off the side boards and stepped into the slot where he wired the shot passed Victoria goalie Rob Muntain.

Then at the ninth minute mark Keith Anderson connected from Bryce Charpentier to stretch the Everblades lead to 3-0. It certainly seemed as if the Everblades had learned their lesson from the night before, when they were stung by the Salmon Kings 4-3.

But Victoria began to swing the play their way and started to even a game that was quickly turning sour. At 13:18 Adam Campbell and Ryan Finnerty set up Chris Corrinet's 8th of the season to put Victoria back within two, and that is how the first period ended.

The road weary Salmon Kings had some help in their line-up with the return of forward Brandon Elliott and defenseman Craig Strain but it certainly appeared Head Coach Bryan Maxwell was staring at a tank that was getting perilously close to empty.

In the second the game continued to go as Friday's went. The Salmon Kings came out of the gate and pressured the Everblades down low and worked them hard on the walls.

At 16:15 Everblades goalie Tyler MacKay made a vital mistake. After making a save he decided to play the puck right back out the middle. Awaiting the dump out was Mark Smith who gloved the puck to ice and ripped the shot past a stunned MacKay and the Salmon Kings went to dressing room to prepare for their final period of hockey in the South Division, trailing by only a goal.

At 10:24 of the third period the wheels began to fall off the Salmon Kings wagon. Everblades Right Winger Brad Church broke in one on one with Brad Dexter and using Dexter as his screen beat Muntain high glove side to give Florida the two goal cushion.

Just twenty-five seconds later the wheels broke loose when Saviano and Vernarsky connected again. This time it was Saviano who beat Muntain on a scramble in the blue ice, and the cushion turned into a sofa with the Everblades having the 5-2 advantage.

With 51 seconds left in the game the Everblades were awarded a penalty shot when Dexter intentionally pushed the net off its moorings. Muntain stood tall in the pipes forcing shooter Tim O'Connell outside and giving him nothing to shoot at.

The Everblades beat the Salmon Kings 5-2. Victoria finishes with a record of 3-5 in the eight game road trip and played well enough to win in all but the opener here in Fort Myers two weeks ago.

The Victoria Salmon Kings next game is on Friday April 1, 2005 in Las Vegas where they will play the Wranglers for the final time this season. The short two game road trip continues in Long Beach on Saturday the 2nd.

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