VICTORIA, BC – It took a few games but Matt Climie found something of a stride in this series between the Salmon Kings and the Steelheads. Climie had been unable to load the Steelheads on his back and carry them through the first three games of this series. That included being pulled in the first period of game three when he yielded three goals on six shots.
Game four in Victoria was something different for Climie. Defenseman Darrell Hay scored at the 14:05 mark of the first period on the powerplay. The goal gave the Steelheads a rare lead in this series and through two periods CLimie was able to protect the lead.
Through two periods Climie stopped 22 shots and frustrated the Kings. Compounding Victoria’s efforts was their inability to convert on the powerplay. Through two periods they were 0 for 5 with the man advantage.
Not until 8:23 of the third did Victoria’s Adam Taylor pick up the game-tying goal off feeds from Sean O’Connor and Shaun Landolt.
Victoria’s Matt Ford was solid in net after giving up the early goal to Hay. Through regulation he stopped 26 of 27 shots and was not beaten again. On the other end of the ice Climie stopped 32 of 33 Salmon Kings shots through regulation.
Throughout regulation Chris St. Jacques was the Salmon Kings player leaving it all on the ice as he was flying across the entire ice sheet in the first 60 minutes of the game.
Defense was left in the locker rooms early in the overtime as both teams were looking for the quick end to the game.
The Steelheads had a golden opportunity early in the OT with a five-on-three advantage but were unable to convert and that opened the door for the Salmon Kings. The Kings easily had the better chances in the OT session and made the Steelheads pay.
Matt Kelly – Photo by Jack Lima
Off a scramble in front of Climie, Matt Kelly notched the game and series-winner. Wes Goldie and Olivier Labelle got the assists.
This was the second series victory for the Salmon Kings who now await their second round opponents. Those opponents will be the winners of the series between the Alaska Aces and the Utah Grizzlies.
For Idaho it is a disappointing close to the season in which they nearly claimed first place overall in the National Conference. Idaho finished the season with the ECHL’s third-best record but become the first participating team eliminated from the loop’s playoffs.
Contact lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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