Victoria takes 1-0 series lead with 4-2 victory in Salt Lake City

April 15, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


West Valley City, UT- In a Friday night matchup at the Maverik Centre, the Victoria Salmon Kings took on the Utah Grizzlies in Game 1 of their best-of-seven Western Conference Semi-final. Victoria started David Shantz in net, while the Grizzlies countered with J.P. Lamoureux.

The Salmon Kings came out with a strong effort to start and controlled the play in the opening minutes. Victoria defender Ryan Turek got the first quality chance as he broke into the zone and made a nice toe drag move between the legs of a Utah defender. Turek then took a quick wrist shot, but his shot missed the net. Victoria forced Lamoureux to make two more saves in the following minutes and then opened the scoring on the power play at 8:55. From the left point Jeff Caister threw the puck towards the goal that missed the net and bounced off the end boards. The puck ended up on the stick of Rick Cleaver to the right of the net who shot it past an outstretched Lamoureux. Minutes later on the Grizzlies' first power play, Simon Ferguson fed the puck into the slot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle. The puck deflected off a player in front and past Shantz for Ferguson's fourth at 11:27. After Utah's first goal of the game, both teams opened up the play and created several scoring chances that both goaltenders turned aside. Late in the period at 18:32, Caister put the puck on net from the left point that made it through a maze of bodies and eluded the Grizzlies' goaltender for his second of the playoffs. The Salmon Kings took their 2-1 lead into the second frame.

Shantz highlighted the early minutes of the second period as he made two high quality stops in close. Victoria regained the momentum after they were able to hold the control the puck in the Grizzlies zone for the next few minutes. At the 4:04 mark of the frame, Salmon Kings' defender Derick Martin threw the puck on net that deflected off a body in front and past Lamoureux for his first goal of the playoffs. Victoria continued to control the play near the midway point as they looked to add to their two-goal lead. The Grizzlies had several scoring opportunities in the last half of the period, but could not put the puck past Shantz. The Salmon Kings received another power play late in the frame which was highlighted by a Rob Hennigar shot from the point that hit the post. As the teams went back to 5-on-5, Shea Guthrie broke in on a 2-on-1 with a Utah forward. From the right side Guthrie outwaited a stretched out Salmon Kings' defender and skated around him before he shot the puck over the net. In transition back up the ice, Chad Painchaud kept the puck on a 3-on-1 rush, but missed on his attempt. Victoria held a 3-1 lead after two periods.

The Grizzlies received a power play early into the third as they looked to cut into the Salmon Kings lead. On the man advantage, Tuzzolino circled the net and passed the puck to Matt Reber on the left face-off dot. Reber then fed Brett Parnham in the right circle who snapped the puck over the blocker of Shantz at 3:30 for his third of the post season. Halfway through the period Victoria rookie Chad Klassen dug out the puck and fed Hennigar from behind the net. Hennigar snapped a quick shot that beat the Grizzles' goalie, but rang off the left post past his blocker. Utah continued to pressure as they looked for the tying goal, but were kept to the outside by the Victoria defense squad. With just over a minute left in the game the Grizzlies pulled Lamoureux for the extra attacker. Utah created a swarm in front of the net that concluded with a right pad save from Shantz. The Grizzlies maintained possession with another shot, but Martin made a key block to send Adam Taylor into the Grizzlies' end for the empty net goal to secure the victory. Salmon Kings 4 Grizzlies 2. Victoria leads the best-of-seven Western Conference Semi-final 1-0.

Victoria went 1/4 = 25.0% on the power play, while Utah was 2/2 = 100.0%. The Grizzlies outshot the Salmon Kings 26-25.

Game 2 goes tomorrow, Saturday April 16th at the Maverik Centre in West Valley City. Game time is at 6:05 pm. To watch or listen live to Salmon Kings hockey visit www.salmonkings.com.The Salmon Kings will then 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.



ECHL Stories from April 15, 2011


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