The Grizzlies got three points each from forward Nathan Looysen and defenceman Jake Stevens en route to an 8-2 thumping of the last-place Express. The victory improved Victoria鈥檚 record to 20-5-3-3 and the Island Division leaders moved into sole possession of third place overall in the sa国际传媒 Hockey League 鈥� behind Penticton and Wenatchee 鈥� with 46 points.
Tony Rehm got the start in goal for the Grizzlies as Matthew Galajda headed off to the Leduc, Alta., for the Team sa国际传媒 West selection camp for the World Junior A Challenge in Bonneyville, Alta.
Rehm made 18 saves to push his record to 3-0 and he got plenty of help at the other end of the ice at Poirier Sports and Leisure Centre. Looysen and T.J. Friedmann put the Grizzlies up 2-1 after 20 minutes, and then Nick Guiney, Cam Thompson and Stevens beat Express netminder Lawson Fenton in the second period to send the Grizzlies on their way to their fourth win in their past five games. Keyvan Mokhtari, Looysen and Jamie Rome added third-period goals for Victoria.
Hayden Knight and Luca Leone had the goals for Coquitlam.
The victory allowed the Grizzlies to finish their three-games-in-two-and-a-half days road trip with five of the possible six points. The loss drops Coquitlam to a league-worst 6-23-1-2.
The Grizzlies now head back out on the road on Wednesday as they trek north to Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo to take on Clippers. The Clippers are coming off a 4-3 double-overtime loss in Duncan on Saturday night to the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The next home game for the Grizzlies is Saturday night when Wenatchee makes its one-and-only visit to The Q Centre.
