Victoria improved to 17-2-3-1 within the division, 5-0 against the Clippers and 25-6-4-3 overall as the productive 2016-17 campaign continues. The Grizzlies have now outscored Nanaimo 22-8 over the five head-to-head outings.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had their number over the last five, but we don鈥檛 take them for granted. They鈥檝e been a good hockey club for a long time. We come in here and expect to see a good hockey team and we give them our A game every time,鈥� Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon said of the Clippers.
鈥淲e want to keep that record in the division going, as well. We can鈥檛 rest on our laurels. We need to keep pushing.鈥�
Down 1-0 just 1:00 into the game, courtesy of Matt Creamer鈥檚 goal on the first Nanaimo shot, the Grizzlies battled back with goals from affiliated player Trevor Owens (of the Peninsula Panthers), T.J. Friedmann and Cole Pickup by the 7:56 mark of the opening frame.
Justin Michaelian scored on a short-handed penalty shot at 18:03 of the first for a 4-1 advantage heading into the opening intermission.
After a scoreless second period, Nathan Looysen and Pickup (with his second of the night) sandwiched Victoria goals around David Silye鈥檚 effort in the third.
Austin Roden made the start in goal for Nanaimo, but was pulled at 6:20 of the first, down 2-1 after facing just three shots. Evan DeBrouwer mopped up and made 20 saves.
Matthew Galajda continued to carry his hot hand in net for the Grizzlies, stopping 27 shots for his 17th victory of the season.
The Grizzlies now prepare for a three-game road trip to Langley, Wenatchee and Surrey on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, before they return home on Wednesday to face the same Clippers, who fell to 14-20-5-1 overall.
IN THE DEN: Another Grizzlies鈥� affiliate, Max Daerendinger 鈥� a defenceman with the Campbell River Storm 鈥� recorded an assist, his first point in two games with Victoria.
