Victoria earns second round berth with 3-2 extra time win in Bakersfield in Game 4

April 10, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Bakersfield, CA- In a Saturday night matchup at the Rabobank Arena the Victoria Salmon Kings took on the Bakersfield Condors in Game 4 of their best-of-five Western Conference Quarterfinal series. The Salmon Kings entered the contest with a 2-1 series lead. Victoria started David Shantz in goal, while Bakersfield gave the call to Brian Stewart.

Both teams started the game with chances as the goaltenders got into the contest with two early saves. After a successful penalty kill in the opening minutes, Bakersfield broke out on a 2-on-1 rush as Condors' forward Pascal Morency moved the puck down the right wing. Morency fed a cross-ice pass to Stephane Goulet who beat Shantz with a quick shot over his outstretched left pad at 6:27. Goulet's goal was his second of the postseason. The Salmon Kings followed the goal with a strong shift, highlighted by a Chad Painchaud breakaway chance that was smothered by the pads of Stewart. Near the midway point of the period the pace slowed down as both teams fell into a defensive style of play. Past the 10 minute mark, both teams exchanged power play opportunities, but were unable to score the next goal of the game. The best chance from the man advantages came off the stick of Matt Siddall, who was taken down on a shorthanded breakaway with no penalty called. Victoria finished the period strong as they tested Stewart with a few tough saves to keep his team ahead. Bakersfield took their 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Salmon Kings came out with a good effort in the middle frame as they held the Condors in their own end for the first few shifts. The defensive style of play continued for both teams as neither club could generate a quality scoring chance in the first 10 minutes of the period. Victoria picked up their offensive play past the halfway point of the period as they pushed forward with two 2-on-1 chances they just missed converting on. Late in the period, Victoria was awarded their third power play opportunity of the game. Off the ensuing faceoff win, Chad Painchaud blasted a shot from the top of the right circle that Stewart knocked down in front of him. Milan Gajic jumped in from the scramble in front of the net and slid home his third goal of the playoffs around Stewart at 16:40. The Salmon Kings continued their pressure in the final minute and took the lead with just seven seconds remaining in the period. On another 2-on-1 rush, Ryan Dingle streaked down the left wing with the puck. The Victoria forward made a nice move to get around the lone Condors' defender and find Adam Taylor at the top of the crease who buried the puck into an open net. The Salmon Kings carried their 2-1 advantage into the third period.

The Salmon Kings looked to extend their lead early in the final period as Painchaud just missed a Chad Klassen pass on a 2-on-1 rush, while moments later Rob Hennigar was stopped at the top of the crease from Stewart. As the Condors received a power play near the halfway mark of the period, the Salmon Kings' penalty kill team was stellar as three Bakersfield chances were blocked in front while Shantz made two tough saves. As Victoria gathered momentum after the penalty kill, the Condors knotted the game at 12:12. Joey Ryan fired a shot on net from the right blue line that missed the target and rimmed around to Josh Burrows at the left point. The Bakersfield forward threw the puck on net which banked off a body and over the blocker of Shantz. Both teams traded offensive rushes late in the period as the pace of the game picked up once again. The Condors skated in on a 3-on-1 rush just past the 15 minutes mark, but a great stick-check by Derick Martin broke up the play. The teams headed to overtime in their 2-2 tie.

Just 4:26 into the extra frame, Chad Painchaud moved the puck down the right wing on a 3-on-2 rush. The Victoria forward fed the puck to the middle of the ice for Chad Klassen who blasted a shot just wide of the net on the right side. As the shot happened, Painchaud cut behind Stewart through the crease, collected the loose puck off the glass and slid home the series winner. Salmon Kings 3 Condors 2 in overtime. Victoria wins the best-of-five Western Conference Quarterfinal series 3-1.

Victoria went 1/3 = 33.3% on the power play, while Bakersfield finished 0/2 = 0.0%. The Condors outshot the Salmon Kings 32-21.

The Salmon Kings now move into the second round of the 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs and await the winner of the best-of-five series between the Stockton Thunder and Utah Grizzlies. Keep posted on www.salmonkings.com for the full second round playoff schedule, including home dates at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. For ticket information as it becomes available, visit www.selectyourtickets.com or call 250-220-7777.



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