<img src="http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/07/salmonprospects.jpg" class="imageFloatRightFramed">In the first minute of last nights (Dec 27) home game against the visitors from Anchorage, Coach Morrison had rolled all three of his lines and two of his defense pairs. This came about when, by the 37 second mark, the Salmon Kings had scored twice, within the minuscule span of eight seconds. Taking perfect passes from Scott Howes and Tim Weddurburn, Andy Brandt opened the nights scoring festival. Then, with helpers from the two Oliviers (Filion and Latendresse), Wes Goldie flipped the puck that chased Scott Reid from the Aces net as he made it a 2-0 game.

Alaska's coach Brent Thompson opted to turn the net over to Denmark's Sebastian Dahm. Three minutes later, with Taylor Ellington caught up ice, the Aces rapidly counterattacked. Brock McBride found himself in a one on three attack, yet found an opening to make the game closer.

As the period progressed, the defensive play of the Salmon Kings was lackadaisical. This almost caused a game tying goal, on a scramble that ended up being disallowed with Aces sniper John Lammers being called for goalie interference.

At the 17:45 mark, Victoria's indifferent defensive play was punished when Nick Mazzolini tied the game. At this point, two things happened that may have, in the end, turned the tide. First, Coach Morrison, for very brief shifts, employed his shutdown duo of Gary Gladue and Tim Wedderburn who slowed down the onrushing Aces. Then with eleven seconds lift in the opening frame, Glenn Fisher made a brilliant waist high glove save from a dangerous on the rush shot. It was the kind of save that can give a team confidence.

That confidence was there for all to see in the second period, when the Salmon Kings netted three unanswered goals. First, on the penalty kill, Chad Painchaud sent a laser pass to Olivier Latendresse who then sent a superb snap shot into the net from the Aces right defensive zone faceoff dot.

A minute and twenty four seconds later, the two Oliviers (Filion and Latendresse) combined to cycle the puck to their line mate, Wes Goldie. Executing the lost art of the backhound, the captain scored his second highlight reel goal of the game.

Preventable penalties in hockey have a way of being punished, and the Aces paid for a too many men trip to the sinbin. Apparently having the green light, Taylor Ellingon pinched deep and scored off a perfect Dirk Southern pass. Most of the first half of the third period was a parade to the penalty box by both teams. With a limited number of shifts, Aces Justin Johnson used his brief time on SOFMC ice to try to start trouble.

Then with Taylor Ellington off for his second consecutive penalty Nick Tuzzolini brought the Aces within two goals of the Salmon Kings, score now 5-3 Victoria. At the 18:28 mark,Chad Painchaud's empty netter made it 6-3. For reasons that on the surface appear inexplicable, Coach Brent Thompson chose to once again pull his goalie. Thirty seconds after the first empty netter, Brandon Roach did the honours when he shot the puck into the open Alaska net.

Thus a 7-3 victory, and a winning streak now at seven games. With the results from California, the Salmon Kings are now tied in points with the Ontario Reign, but their .500 percentage is higher, putting them into fourth place. Regardless of tonight's result (Dec 28), the Salmon Kings have put themselves into a position where the final games of 2009 in Utah will be a battle for third place in the ECHL National Conference.

UNSUNG HEROES--Jimmy Sharrow and Olivier Latendresse, both displayed excellent stick handling skills in ragging the puck while killing penalties

A GOALIE SCORING RACE--Recently Bakersfield Condors German netminder, Timo Piemier scored a goal, one of a number of ECHL goalies who have executed this feat. Which reminds me of the strangest such goal. Reading in The Hockey News, sometime in the late 1970s, an East German goalie scored, only his puck went into the net with Romania's goalie in the net! Alas, there was no television footage of that goal.

FAST BUT NOT THAT FAST ...Two goals in eight seconds are fast. For those statistically minded the ECHL record for the fastest two goals by one team is three seconds, and has been done three times. This feat was accomplished by the Cincinnati Cyclone in 1992, Jacksonville in 1996 and Florida in 2005.The playoff record is 8 seconds, set by Richmond against Tallahassee in 1995.

A point of comparison is the NHL record for the fastest two goals by one team. On Jan 21, 2004 the Minnesota Wild did the trick in three seconds in a 4-2 win over Chicago.On April 11, 1965, the Detroit Red Wings set the NHL playoff mark at five seconds.

AUTOGRaPAHED PUCKS, etc. Salmon King pucks, autographed by all the players are available for a minimum donation of $10 before games and between period, proceeds going to the Goals That Give charity. They are available at all home games at the Booster Club table on the concourse.

Be sure to drop by, perhaps ask about the Booster Club, maybe join our group, and be sure to have a look at the large board that has the shape of a hockey rink on that that charts some of the Goals That Give.