Three Up, Three Down

Published on December 19, 2004 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC – The Victoria Salmon Kings and the San Diego Gulls were at it again on Saturday and the tilt was everything the game on Friday was not. The result though was the same. The Salmon Kings hung their heads again after another frustrating one goal loss.

Both teams opened the play up considerably from the close fought battle on Friday and the game finished 5-4 with the Gulls on top.

After a fantastic outing a day earlier, the Gulls coaching staff decided to sit goaltender Eddy Fehri in favour of going back to their number one Trevor Koenig and it did not look like the move was going to pay off early.

Five minutes into the first, Salmon Kings forward Jeff Williams took a nice feed from Corey Smith and broke in down the wing and beat Koenig to put Victoria ahead 1-0.

After locked out NHLer Curtis Brown tied the game at one, Seth Leonard was credited with a goal that looked to go in off a Gull defender and the Salmon Kings headed to the dressing room in good condition, up 2-1.

But this is the ECHL and nothing is easy, especially maintaining momentum. While Victoria had little problems scoring on Saturday they were pulling the puck from behind Jason Stone far too often. Eight minutes into the second the Gulls tied the game again on a goal from Colin Shields and the teams were back to square one.

Victoria kept driving on the Gulls and just a few minutes later Brad Dexter took the pass from Leonard in the slot and beat Koenig upstairs and the Salmon Kings were out to their third lead of the game.

San Diego Captain Mike Garrow had a reply though. At the 18:00 minute mark of the second he broke down the Salmon Kings defence and tied the game at three. Then an unfortunate bounce against the Salmon Kings who seem to be fighting unfortunate bounces. San Diego was on the power-play with fifteen seconds to play and the puck went off the stick of the Victoria defender on front and passed Stone. The Gulls had their first lead, 4-3.

Four minutes into the third it was the Salmon Kings turn to come back. Corey Smith posted in front of Koenig made the perfect tip on a blast from the point off the stick of Ryan Finnerty, through the legs of Koenig, and the Salmon Kings had some life, with the score 4-4.

Less than five minutes later though the Gulls Max Birbraer responded and sent the Victoria Salmon Kings to their third straight loss. Both teams started the game looking for more goals than the 2-1 final on Friday but neither the Salmon Kings nor the Gulls coaching staff can be happy with four and five goals against respectively.

The two teams will get another chance at each other on Monday December 20, 2004 and each game as the series has gone on has become more chippy and the rivalry is definitely starting to heat up. The Salmon Kings look to stop their three game skid and go into the Christmas break on a more positive note than the past week has been.

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ECHL Stories from December 19, 2004


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