Victoria Salmon Kings sweep Grizzlies

VICTORIA, B.C. – The Victoria Salmon Kings swept the Utah Grizzlies in four games in the second round to advance to the Western Conference Finals, after a 2-1 win in double overtime in Victoria.
 
This was the third straight game in which Utah scored early to take the 1-0 lead, but wasn’t able to extend the lead to hold on, before the Kings took control.
 
In the first period, Simon Ferguson scored on a power play with assists from Brett Parnham and Nick Tuzzolino at 2:44.   Utah would hold the lead throughout the remainder of the first period, and most of the second.
 
A breakaway opportunity by Kyle McLeod with 1:05 remaining in the second led to the tying goal by Victoria.   Rick Cleaver and Ryan Dingle were credited with the assists on the play.
 
The game remained tied at 1-1 at the end of regulation, leading to the second consecutive overtime game between these two teams.
 
The Grizzlies managed to kill four straight power plays before the end of the game.
 
Both teams battled in the first overtime.   Victoria had a man advantage in four separate opportunities that failed to score, while Jean-Philippe Lamoureux stopped everything that came his way, stopping 50 shots.  
 
David Shantz of the Salmon Kings had 40 saves for the night to take the win.   The Grizzlies were one of two on the power play, while the Kings were scoreless in eight chances.
 
The winning goal by Salmon Kings Adam Taylor came at 48 seconds into the second overtime that went top-shelf over Lamoureux to end the game with a final score of 2-1.
 
The sweep came before 6,095 fans at Save-On-Food Memorial Centre, in what will be the Salmon King’s last season here.   It was announced earlier in the week that the Kings will be folded in favor of a WHL team.  
 
The Salmon Kings will have a few days to relish in the win, before they face the Alaska Aces in the Conference Finals.   The Aces also swept the Idaho Steelheads earlier this evening.   The Aces had the most points of the Western Conference, earning a bye in the first round.   The next round is set to begin Wednesday, April 27 at Sullivan Arena in Alaska.
 
Contact the writer at Shellie.Lima@prohockeynews.com