SALMON KINGS COMEBACK FALLS SHORT

Victoria falls 4-2 to Las Vegas.

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Victoria, BC – In a Wednesday night match-up the Victoria Salmon Kings and Las Vegas Wranglers met in the first contest of an extended four-game set. Goaltender Todd Ford started in net for the Kings while the Wranglers countered with Glenn Fisher.

The Wranglers were the first to score in the opening frame. The teams played the first 7:44 of the game without a whistle until the Wranglers’ Justin Taylor netted his 10th goal of the season. Ford was screened as Taylor tipped a Mick Lawrence wrist shot from the point into the top left corner. Las Vegas doubled their lead on a 4-on-3 power play when Dan Spang beat Ford on a shot from the high slot to collect his first goal of the season. That would wrap up the first period of play with the Wranglers ahead 2-0.

After some back and forth chances, Tyler Mosienko picked up a rebound during a scramble in front of the Salmon Kings net and slid it past Ford. Mosienko’s goal was his 11th of the season; Justin Taylor and Mick Lawrence were awarded with the assists to extend Las Vegas’ lead to 3-0. The Salmon Kings responded when Wes Goldie notched his 37th on the power play a mere two minutes after the Wranglers’ goal. On the power play Milan Gajic fed Goldie a saucer pass from the goal line, and the ECHL’s second leading goal scorer made no mistake putting it past Fisher to put the Salmon Kings in reach of a 3-1 Wranglers lead. The Kings’ moved to within one when Darryl Lloyd stripped Fisher of the puck behind the net. He then threw it in front where Chris St. Jacques would bang home his 11th tally of the year. Salmon Kings trailed 3-2 after 40 minutes.

Defense played a major role in the third period; Victoria had 13 shots and three power play opportunities. They were not able to put a puck past Fisher.  An empty net goal by Chris Ferraro with less than one minute of play left concluded the scoring for the night. Wranglers 4 Salmon Kings 2.

Victoria finished 1/6 = 16.7% on the power play, while Las Vegas finished 1/3= 33.3%.  The Wranglers outshot the Salmon Kings 37-36.

This four-game set continues this weekend the game times are 7:05PM for Friday and Saturday.  Puck drop for the Sunday finale is at 5:05.  For tickets, call 220-7777 or visit www.selectyourtickets.com.