That loud thud heard coming from The Q Centre on Friday night was a giant monkey falling off Cam Thompson鈥檚 back.
After going 16 games without a goal, Thompson ended that drought with authority 12 minutes into the opening period, scoring his 15th goal of the season to lead the Victoria Grizzlies to a 4-1 win over the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
The 20-year-old Thompson took a pass from Ryan Nolan, walked around the Cowichan defenceman and fired a high wrister past Capitals netminder Jack Grant to put the Grizzlies up 2-0.
The Grizzlies, who were playing their first home game in 19 days and six straight road games, treated the 1,551 fans in attendance on Military Appreciation Night to an early goal after Marty Westhaver threw a puck on net that went off a defenceman鈥檚 skate and in, just 2:40 into the game.
Then the Grizzlies鈥� big line of projected 2019 NHL draft picks Alex Newhook and Alex Campbell, along with 2018 New York Rangers draft pick Riley Hughes, took over late in the second. After a long spell in the Caps鈥� end, Newhook found Campbell in the corner, who found Kenny Johnson in the slot for a one-timer past Grant.
Newhook, committed to Boston College of the NCAA next season, continued to pour it on early in the third, flipping a nifty pass to Nolan on a two-on-one for an easy one-timer for the 20-year-old winger, who鈥檚 headed to Merrimack of the NCAA next fall.
Niko Esposito-Selivanov had the Capitals鈥� goal.
Kurtis Chapman had a strong outing in the Victoria net, making 39 saves. Grant finished with 40 stops. The victory allowed Victoria (29-15-0-2) to widen its lead atop the Island Division to three points over the Powell River Kings, who fell 4-3 at home to the Penticton Vees on Friday. The Capitals fall to 13-30-4-1.
The Grizzlies have today off before welcoming the Vernon Vipers to The Q Centre on Sunday for a 2 p.m. game.
Neither team had their head coaches behind the bench. Craig Didmon is away on a scouting trip, while Capitals bench boss Mike Vandekamp was suspended after Wednesday night鈥檚 loss to Alberni Valley.
