Salmon Kings four wins away from Kelly Cup finals

Matt Cowie, right, hugs goalie David Shantz following the Salmon Kings win over the Utah Grizzlies on Wednesday, April 20. The Salmon Kings swept the Grizzlies and will play the Alaska Aces in Game 3 of the Western conference final in Victoria on Saturday night.

Matt Cowie, right, hugs goalie David Shantz following the Salmon Kings win over the Utah Grizzlies on Wednesday, April 20. The Salmon Kings swept the Grizzlies and will play the Alaska Aces in Game 3 of the Western conference final in Victoria on Saturday night.

Adam Taylor’s double-overtime goal extended the Victoria Salmon Kings’ stay in town with a 2-1 win over the Utah Grizzlies on Friday.

Consider it another month’s rent while the fading eviction notice on the fridge, stamped by the WHL, continues to go ignored.

The win was the Salmon Kings’ sixth straight in the ECHL’s Kelly Cup playoffs and made it a four-game sweep of the Grizzlies in the second round.

With the Western Hockey League coming in for the 2011-12 season and the Salmon Kings on the way out, the irony of the situation is gripping the city’s hockey fans.

Adding to the fun is the Salmon Kings’ opponent in the ECHL Western conference final, the Alaska Aces.

Leading the Aces is captain Wes Goldie, who left Victoria when he was stripped of his captaincy by the Salmon Kings last summer.

For the Aces, this is their fourth appearance in the conference finals in the last seven years. It’s the first trip to the conference finals for the Salmon Kings and its franchise predecessor, the Baton Rouge Kingfish (1996-2003).

Western conference final sked

Games 1 & 2: at Alaska, April 27 & 28

Game 3: Alaska at Victoria, Sat., April 30Game 4: Alaska at Victoria, Mon., May 2Game 5: Alaska at Victoria, Tues., May 5

Game 6: Victoria at Alaska, Thurs., May 7Game 7: Victoria at Alaska, Fri., May 8

All Victoria games at 7:05 p.m.

Victoria News