Victoria heads home with 2-0 series lead after 4-2 victory in Utah

Published on April 16, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


West Valley City, UT- In a Saturday night matchup at the Maverik Centre, the Victoria Salmon Kings took on the Utah Grizzlies in Game 2 of their best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinal. The Salmon Kings came in with the 1-0 series lead. Victoria started David Shantz in net, while the Grizzlies went with J.P Lamoureux.

The Salmon Kings received an early power play to start the game and were able to control the puck inside of the Grizzlies' zone, but could not get the puck past the Utah netminder to open the scoring. Victoria was able to shut down Utah defensively for the first nine minutes of the period as they held a 5-0 lead in shots. On the Grizzlies' second shot of the night Marcus Carroll converted a cross-crease pass from Chris Donovan from the left side at 9:33 to get on the scoreboard. The marker was Carroll's second of the post season. Around the 15 minute mark of the period Chad Klassen broke through a couple of Utah defenders and had a short breakaway on Lamoureux. The Grizzlies' goaltender dove out of his crease and caught the leg of Salmon Kings' rookie as the puck rolled just past the outside of the left post. Both teams settled into a dump and chase style of play as the period expired. Utah took a 1-0 lead into the second frame.

Victoria fought off a strong start by the Grizzlies in the second period and tied the game at the 3:50 mark. Geoff Waugh took a shot from the right point that Lamoureux kicked out, but Chad Painchaud was in the slot to put the rebound in the net. The goal was Painchaud's third of the Kelly Cup Playoffs. At the 8:29 mark of the period Utah received their first power play of the night, but the Salmon Kings pressured the Grizzlies' players and were able to kill it off. The momentum gained from the penalty kill paid off as Painchaud netted his second of the period at 11:31. The play began on a Victoria 3-on-1 where Lamoureux turned aside a Rob Hennigar shot from the right wing circle. Klassen kept the play alive and fed Hennigar in the right corner who then fired a centering pass to Painchaud to the left of net. The Victoria forward tipped the puck just past the goal line before Lamoureux could get his stick on it. Utah answered right back at 14:13 on their second power play. From the left corner, Simon Ferguson hit Nick Tuzzolino in the slot who snapped the shot past the right shoulder of Shantz for his first of the playoffs. The Salmon Kings countered on the next play on a 3-on-2 break as Rick Cleaver fed Kiel McLeod by the blue line. The Salmon Kings' forward snapped a quick shot on net that the Grizzlies netminder saved, but McLeod rushed to grab the rebound and put it in the net. The goal came 33 seconds after Tuzzolino's marker. Three second period goals gave Victoria a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes.

The Salmon Kings continued their momentum from the strong finish to the second period as they held the majority of the offensive chances early. Five minutes into the frame Utah went back on the power play, but Shantz and the penalty killers were able to keep the Grizzlies' shooters off the board. The momentum carried over as the Salmon Kings kept up their offensive play and forced Lamoureux to make several saves to keep Utah one goal back. Victoria was then rewarded from their strong play as they doubled their lead at 11:01. Tommy Maxwell controlled the puck below the goal line and shot the puck at Lamoureux who stopped it with his right pad. Maxwell charged the net and got his stick on the puck to push it across the goal line. The goal was his first of the playoffs. Utah looked to answer right back after Shea Guthrie cut in from the right side and deked across the net, but Shantz stuck his right leg out to deny the winger. After the save, the puck went out into the high slot where Paul Mcllveen collected the puck and was denied on a highlight reel save by a sprawled Shantz. The Grizzlies pulled their goaltender with two minutes left, but the Salmon Kings were able to shut them down to preserve the victory. Salmon Kings 4 Grizzlies 2. Victoria leads the best-of-seven Western Conference Semifinal 2-0.

Victoria went 0/1 = 0.0% on the power play, while Utah was 1/3 = 33.3%. The Grizzlies outshot the Salmon Kings 29-26.

The Salmon Kings will return to the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre for Game 3 on Wednesday April 20th and Game 4 on Friday April 22nd. Game time for both games is at 7:05 pm. Tickets are available for as low as $5 for all home dates. The first 1,000 fans that attend the home playoff games will receive a complimentary white Salmon Kings' rally towel. In addition the first 1,800 fans that attend Friday night's game will receive a complimentary Marty the Marmot bobblehead sponsored by Coke Zero. For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.

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