Victoria Salmon Kings Slip Past Bakersfield Condors 3-2 - ECHL

MLN - THE RAW FEED - www.mlntherawfeed.com - BAKERSFIELD, Calif.- RW Marc-Andre Bernier scored on a rebound at 2:51 of overtime to lift the Victoria Salmon Kings to a 3-2 victory in front of 5,197 fans at Rabobank Arena Tuesday night. The Salmon Kings take a 2-games-to-1 lead in the best-of- seven series.
The first period featured plenty hits and scoring opportunities for each team. But for the first time in the series, Victoria opened the scoring. A power play goal by D Dylan Yeo at 12:56 of the opening period made it 1-0 Salmon Kings. Bakersfield G Yutaka Fukufuji made 12 saves in the period, while Salmon Kings G Billy Thompson stopped all 10 Condors chances.
Defense reigned in the second frame, with fewer offensive chances, though the Condors got the equalizer. D Kevin Truelson, cutting into the offensive zone on the power play, snapped home his second goal of the playoffs at 13:26 to make it 1-1. F Alexander Naurov picked up his team-leading third point of the series with an assist on the goal. Bakersfield led in shots 10-8 in the period.
Victoria regained the lead with their second power play goal of the night, at 6:54. It came off the stick of Yeo, scoring from the top of the slot with a slapper. The clock wound down inside six minutes to go in regulation before F Tim Konsorada
ADVERTISEMENT knotted the score. He redirected a shot from D Chris Kaufman at 14:13 to send the game to overtime.
For the second time in the three games of the series the Condors and Salmon Kings went to overtime. Moments after narrowly surrendering the game winner, Victoria forced a turnover deep in the Bakersfield zone and crashed the Condors net. Bernier picked up the loose puck and lifted it home for his first of the post-season.
To view the complete box score from tonight's game, click here.
Notes from The Nest:
D Chris Kaufman recorded his first point as a professional with an assist on the game-tying goal in the third period... F Alexander Naurov picked up his team-leading third point of the playoffs with an assist on the game-tying goal.
The winner of this series will move on to face the winner of the (#3) Fresno Falcons vs. (#6) Utah Grizzlies series. Utah currently leads 2-games-to-0 in their best-of-seven matchup, with Game 3 coming Wednesday night.
Upcoming Games:
The Condors host the Salmon Kings for Game 4 Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Everyone in attendance will get Lightning Sticks - thundersticks that glow! Game 5 is Saturday at home as well, and everyone will get either Rally Towels or Lightning Sticks, while supplies last. The first round of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs are sponsored by KGET-TV 17, Goodwill Industries and Cal Water. Doors open at 6 p.m., puck drops at 7 p.m. both nights.
Games 6 and 7, if necessary, will take place in Victoria next Tuesday and Wednesday.

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