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Victoria ties game late in regulation, defeats Ontario 4-3 in a shootout

March 14, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Saturday night match-up the Victoria Salmon Kings and Ontario Reign met in the third of a four-game season set. Goaltender Julien Ellis started in net for the Salmon Kings, while the Reign countered with Jeff Zatkoff.

Ontario took a 1-0 lead 3:22 into the opening frame. On a two-man advantage, Reign defenseman Dan Knapp fired a point shot that was tipped by Geoff Walker, and that eluded Ellis along the ice. Walker's goal was his 19th of the season. Sean O'Connor nearly tied the score for the Salmon Kings near the halfway point of the period when he fired a shot off the right wing that beat Zatkoff but not the goalpost. Ellis would steal the show in the later stages of the period, making two highlight-reel saves on consecutive Reign two-on-one opportunities. The first period ended with the Reign holding a one-goal advantage.

The Salmon Kings would pull even at the 14:23 mark of the middle period. Matt Kelly took a Dan Gendur feed and beat Zatkoff glove-side with a wrist shot from inside the faceoff circle. Kelly's goal was his 10th of the season, and would prove to be the lone marker of the second period. The Salmon Kings rebounded with a strong second period, controlling the play and outshooting the Reign 17-12. The teams skated into the second intermission tied 1-1.

The Salmon Kings took a 2-1 lead at the 10:11 mark of the third period. On a power play, Olivier Filion took a beautiful cross ice pass from Dan Gendur and made no mistake in burying his 11th goal of the season. Just over a minute later, at 11:27, the Reign would tie the game at two, when Bud Holloway caught Ellis off guard with wraparound marker. Holloway's goal was his 12th of the year. The Reign would regain the lead shortly after, at the 13:51 mark. Forward Ryan MacGregor slipped a puck under Julien Ellis' pads and into the net to give Ontario a 3-2 lead. As they did a night before, the Salmon Kings staged a late flurry on Zatkoff and this time were rewarded. With 10 seconds remaining in regulation, Aaron Brocklehurst fired his sixth goal of the year from the slot past Zatkoff to tie the game at 3-3 and send the contest into overtime.

The extra frame would solve nothing and the teams needed a shootout to decide the victor. In the shootout, Julien Ellis saved all three shots he faced, while Olivier Labelle, Chris St. Jacques, and Wes Goldie all scored for the Salmon Kings. Salmon Kings 4 Reign 3 in a shootout.

Victoria finished 1/4 = 25.0% on the power play, while Ontario finished 1/8= 12.5%. The Salmon Kings outshot the Reign 48-39.

The Salmon Kings and Reign meet again tomorrow, Sunday March 15th to complete their four game series set. Puck drop is at 1:05 p.m. The Salmon Kings will open their final regular series set this Wednesday, March 18 against the Idaho Steelheads at 7:05 p.m.. For tickets call 220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.



ECHL Stories from March 14, 2009


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