The Victoria Grizzlies rode the solid goaltending of Matthew Galajda and the sa国际传媒 Hockey League鈥檚 top-ranked penalty-killing unit to a 1-0 victory over the Nanaimo Clippers at Frank Crane Arena on Friday night.
Veteran Nathan Looysen鈥檚 seventh goal of the season with 2:45 left in the second period just as a power play ended, proved to be the deciding goal for the Grizzlies, who improve to 17-5-3-2 and remain atop the Island Division standings. Defenceman Brett Stirling and forward Tyler Welsh drew the assists on Looysen鈥檚 marker, which was his sixth goal on the road this season and helped the Grizzlies bounce back from a 2-1 loss to the Trail Smoke Eaters last Sunday.
After a scoreless first period in front of 1,522 fans at Frank Crane, the Clippers had three power plays in the middle frame but couldn鈥檛 solve Galajda, who picked up his third shutout and 13th win of the season. The victory comes just days after the netminder was named to the selection camp early next month for Team sa国际传媒 West and the World Junior A Challenge.
The Clippers (11-13-1-3) finished the night 0-for-4 on the power play.
The Grizzlies鈥� power-play unit wasn鈥檛 any better, going 0-for-5.
Galajda stopped all 29 Clippers鈥� shots, while Evan DeBrouwer made 30 saves in the Nanaimo net.
The game was the first in a home-and-home set which finishes up tonight at 7 at The Q Centre.
LOOSE PUCKS: In Powell River on Friday night, the Cowichan Valley Capitals edged the Kings 6-4. The loss drops the Kings two points back of the Grizzlies and Victoria has two games in hand. Cowichan improves to 14-11-2-2 on the season. . . . After tonight鈥檚 game, the Grizzlies hit the road for four games, starting Friday night in Prince George. Then it鈥檚 into Merritt next Saturday, Coquitlam next Sunday and another trip to Nanaimo a week from Wednesday. The Grizzlies鈥� next home game is Dec. 10 when the Wenatchee Wild pay a visit to The Q Centre.
bdrewry@timescolonist
Twitter.com/tc_vicsports
