The Victoria Grizzlies鈥� hopes of riding to a 2012-13 sa国际传媒 Hockey League championship crown remain alive after surviving an elimination game Tuesday at Hap Parker Arena.
An impressive 5-1 victory over the Powell River Kings keeps the Island Division regular-season champs breathing, with the best-of-five opening series now tied 2-2 and the decider set for tonight at 7:15 at Bear Mountain Arena.
The Grizzlies鈥� box office will open at 10 a.m. today for tickets.
Victoria had lost two straight to the four-time defending Coastal Conference-champion Kings before bouncing back on Tuesday. Unlike the previous two outings, the Grizzlies struck first as Pearce Eviston notched his first of the post-season at 5:05 of the opening frame 鈥� a period in which the visitors out-shot the Kings just 5-4.
Victoria was also handed a full two-minute two-man advantage early in the second period, but failed to cash in. However, Leo Fitzgerald made it 2-0 on a power play at 16:16 of the middle stanza.
David Mazurek, Fitzgerald (with his second) and Nolan DeJong upped it to 5-0 within the first 3:34 of the third.
It was a tight game after 40 minutes, but the visitors got to Kings鈥� starting goalie Jonah Imoo, who was pulled after the fourth goal.
Jordan Burns broke Brady Rouleau鈥檚 shutout bid late as the Grizzlies鈥� netminder made 11 saves.
Meanwhile, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs also forced a fifth-and-deciding game with a 3-2 victory over the Clippers and return to Nanaimo tonight for Game 5.
