Victoria's comeback falls short as Stockton win 5-3

December 4, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Victoria Salmon Kings News Release


Victoria, BC - In a Friday night match-up at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, the Victoria Salmon Kings looked to even up their three-game set with the Stockton Thunder. The Salmon Kings started Daren Machesney, while the Thunder gave Edmonton Oilers prospect Bryan Pitton the call in net.

The Salmon Kings started out with an aggressive fore-check, but Josh Aspenlind's bump into the Thunder goalie at the 1:31 mark of period one was deemed as an interference call and sent Stockton to the power play. The Thunder made Victoria pay with an Anthony Aiello point shot from the left side that beat a screened Machesney for his second tally of the season. Garet Hunt notched his first goal of the year to double Stockton's lead five minutes later at 8:36. Fraser Clair fed the puck from the right corner to Hunt, who was tied up by a Salmon Kings player in front of the net, but Hunt managed to get his stick on the puck and tip it past Machesney. After Stockton's second goal David Shantz replaced Machesney in the Victoria crease. The Thunder pushed for their second power play goal of the game, but Shantz made a reactive cross-crease left pad save on Jesse Gimblett to keep it a two-goal game. Shantz's save proved valuable as Victoria got on the board minutes later at 11:45 while 4-on-4. Michael Wilson faked a shot from the point and dished it to Matt Stefanishion who walked out from top of the left circle and fired a wrist shot past the glove side of Pitton. The goal was Stefanishion's third of the campaign. Stockton took their 2-1 lead into the second frame.

The second period saw a plethora of offensive opportunities on both ends. Shantz held the fort as Stockton applied early pressure. Victoria evened the score at 6:01 mark when Salmon Kings' captain Peter Vandermeer knocked down a Thunder clearing effort in the slot. An opportunistic Matt Siddall jumped on the loose puck and fired the puck through the legs of Pitton. The goal was Siddall's team leading 10th marker of the year. Victoria kept the pressure on, but Pitton answered the call. Hennigar fed a puck to Siddall, who was left alone in front of the net, but Pitton reached across with his left pad to deny the Salmon Kings' forward. Pitton continued to put on a show as Victoria broke in on a shorthanded 2-on-1. Josh Aspenlind flew down the left side and dished a pass to Garth Murray at the top of the right circle. Murray one-timed the shot, but Pitton slid across his crease to stop the puck with his left shoulder. Stockton immediately came back down the ice, but Shantz made three consecutive saves during a goal-mouth scramble to keep the score knotted up. Stockton used the momentum of two consecutive power plays in the period's later half to break the dead-lock with less than a minute remaining in the period. Jim Mackenzie dug a puck loose high on the left boards in the Victoria zone and passed the puck to Chris Lawrence. The Thunder's leading scorer cut through the slot and faked a shot. After freezing the defenseman he cut to the right and let a wrister fly that flew past the blocker of Shantz. Stockton had a 3-2 lead going into the third.

Both teams started to pick up the physical during the opening few minutes of play in the third. Hunt and Vandermeer both got roughing minors during a skirmish after the whistle. Stockton capitalized on the 4-on-4 play at 5:40. Aiello notched his second of the night, much to the chagrin of the Victoria crowd. Aiello took a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that beat Shantz, who was knocked out of the play by a Stockton player. The Kings poured on the pressure as they tried to pull within one. The newest member of the Salmon Kings, Matt Butcher, had the best chance for Victoria as he tried to roof the puck in a goal mouth scramble past Pitton. Unfortunately for Victoria he lifted it over the net to keep the score 4-2. The Salmon Kings would pull Shantz with just over a minute left in the game to try and cut into the two goal deficit. The home side gained the zone and capitalized on good puck movement as Derick Martin threaded a pass from the left point to Rick Cleaver who was poised at the right side of the net. Cleaver fired the one-timer into the gaping cage with 48 seconds left. Stockton's Mark Arcobello would thwart the comeback as he netted an empty net goal. On the ensuing faceoff the tone was set for tomorrow night's game when Vandermeer and Hunt would drop the gloves. The Kings' captain landed several blows and Hunt was able to land a few of his own. Thunder 5 Salmon Kings 3.

The Salmon Kings finish their three-game series with the Thunder tomorrow night at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Game-time is 7:05 pm. Saturday's game will mark the Salmon Kings' fifth annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring new teddy bears to the game and throw their stuffed animals onto the ice after the Salmon Kings' first goal. Ticket and teddy bear vouchers are also available for just $24! For tickets call 250-220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.



ECHL Stories from December 4, 2010


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