VICTORIA, BC – The Salmon Kings are back for another run at the ECHL’s post season crown. In the National Conference standings the Kings placed third and are looking to to break out a bit faster this season and continue to defend home ice. Their first round opposition is the Idaho Stellheads who hold the second seed in the conference.
Games three through five are slated for Victoria and that stretch will be cruc ial to the Kings’ hopes moving forward this season.
Offense
This year right wing Wes Goldie has been all-everything for Victoria, again. In 72 games he has picked up 48 goals and 66 points on the season, surpassing his own mark of 42 goals the previous season. Goldie has been an iron man for the Kings in playing in every regular season game for the club for three straight seasons. Centermen Chris St. Jacques (17 G, 43A) and Oliver Filion (12G, 40A) will need to be steady in the post season to feed Goldie who has the tendency to score rather than assist in the Kings offensive scheme.
Down in Idaho, a more balanced scoring threat awaits the Salmon Kings. Bryan McGregor (38G), Ben Nelson (25G), Mark Bomersback (22G), and Garrett Bembridge (20G) present a formidable offensive threat
Defense
On the blueline the Salmon Kings sport a serious threat in their two top scoring defensemen, Matt Kelly (10G, 35A) and Dylan Yeo (10G, 33A). Both defensemen play solid “D” but also rush the puck and see the offensive zone well enough to have collected a significant number of assists on the season. Kelly is +4 on the season and Yeo a respectable +15.
In Idaho, Darrell Hay has chipped in 7 goals and 38 points on the season with a +4 rating. Kory Scoran has also been a solid defenseman who can add to the scoring punch with 5 goals and 33 points.
Goaltenders
In net the Salmon Kings have relied heavily on Todd Ford. The 24-year old Calgary native has played 35 games in net for the Kings and recorded a 17-15-0-1 line with 4 shutouts on the season. Julien Ellis has been worked nearly as much by the Kings’ coaching staff with 23 games played and an 11-8-1-3 record and one shutout. < /div>
In Idaho, head coach Derek Laxdal was hit with two call-ups including goaltender Matt Climie who was recalled by the Dallas Stars and Rejean Beauchemin who was recalled to the AHL.
Both the Climie and Beauchemin call ups are not anticipated to be long, and Steelheads head coach Derek Laxdal said he expects to get both goaltenders back in time for the Steelheads Kelly Cup run. Climie is certainly a loss in the short run as he has been the Steelies’ number one netminder this season. In 42 games he is 27-12-0-1 with 4 shutouts. In 32 games, Beauchemin compiled a 16-11-2-1 record.
Outlook
On defense, both teams are solid with skaters playing solid “D” and chipping in on the scoresheet when needed. For the blueline corps the assessment is a wash.
In net, the Steelheads have the benefit a solid number one netminder, Climie, who now comes back to the ECHL this coming week having spent some time in Dallas. For the Salmon Kings the Ford will be most likely lead goalie. Climie gives the edge in net to the Steelies.
Where the two clubs diverge the most is on the offensive lines. Clearly Goldie leads the way for the Kings but for the Steelheads the offense has multiple heads and cutting one off will not stop the scoring.
While the series may be a tough one in a game-by-game assessment the series will be a quick 4-2 win by the Steelheads. The overwhelming benefit on the front lines and the slightly better goaltending will give the number two seed Steelheads a ticket to the divisional finals.
Contact lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com
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