Anchorage Daily News

Everyone in the ECHL's National Conference is swimming upstream against the streaking Victoria Salmon Kings lately and not making any headway.

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Dylan Yeo

THIS WEEK'S GAMES

VICTORIA SALMON KINGS

26-9-2

at

ALASKA ACES

20-14-2

WHEN: Tonight, Friday and Saturday nights, 7:15 p.m.

WHERE: Sullivan Arena (cap. 6,251)

TICKETS: $12-28, www.alaskaaces.com; all Fred Meyer locations; Aces offices (15th and Gambell), or by phone, 562-4800.

RADIO: AM-750 KFQD

TRENDS: In 35 regular-season and playoff games against the Aces the last two-plus seasons, Victoria's Wes Goldie (No. 16) has scored 30 goals. That includes seven goals in six games against Alaska this season.

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The 15-game winning streak the league-leading Salmon Kings take into tonight's game against the Alaska Aces is the second-longest, regular-season streak in the league's 21-season history. The Salmon Kings are two wins shy of matching the record Cincinnati set last season on the way to the Kelly Cup.

And they have won all 15 games in regulation -- Cincy required three shootout wins and an overtime victory during its streak.

Once regarded as a one-way franchise -- awesome offensively, indifferent defensively -- the Salmon Kings still pack scoring punch, but now complement it with the league's stingiest team defense. They have allowed opponents a mere 2.14 goals per game this season and just 1.40 during their streak. Goaltenders Todd Ford, Julien Ellis and Jonathan Boutin have combined for a .952 save percentage during the streak.

"On that team, everybody's going, everybody's confident,'' said Aces coach Keith McCambridge, whose team lost three games at Victoria midway through the Salmon Kings' streak. "They're showing, with decisive wins, why they're pulling away from the pack.''

League-leading sniper Wes Goldie has struck for 19 goals during the streak. Dylan Yeo, the league's top scorer among defensemen, has contributed 18 points and a plus-18 rating. Former Aces fan favorite Olivier Filion, Goldie's center, has furnished 15 assists. And Darryl Lloyd, Sean O'Connor and Curtis Billsten have each chipped in seven goals.

"Their first line is potent, and they're going to score,'' said Aces defenseman Bryan Miller. "Their second and third lines aren't going to beat you with skill, but they're outworking other teams. They know their roles.''

Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.

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