VICTORIA聽 4
POWELL RIVER聽 0
Series tied at 1-1
It was a must-win scenario for the Victoria Grizzlies and the local sa国际传媒 Hockey League team didn鈥檛 disappoint, defeating the Powell River Kings 4-0 to even the best-of-seven Island Division final series at 1-1 before a crowd of 946 at The Q Centre.
The scene now shifts to Hap Parker Arena for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Tuesday with 7:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. starts, respectively. Victoria will have defenceman Brett Stirling back from his four-game suspension, which will be an added benefit.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a split in the first two and now we need to go there and get at least one of the next two,鈥� said Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon.
鈥淲e needed to win tonight and we were strong.
鈥淚t was the same game plan with some adaptations, but, really, the guys knew how important a game it was.鈥�
Nico Somerville collected his first goal as a member of the Grizzlies just 1:34 into the game to get the hosts going when his point shot somehow found a way into the net through Kings goalie Brian Wilson鈥檚 glove hand.
鈥淭hat got things started right away,鈥� Didmon said.
Tyler Welsh then banged in a loose puck on a power play at 9:39 of the second period, which chased Wilson from the net in favour of backup Mitch Adamyk.
Welsh snapped a 16-game scoring drought that dated back to Jan. 27 while Wilson, who had not lost in five playoff games, struggled with pucks throughout the night.
Cole Pickup then welcomed Adamyk with a deflection just over five minutes later and added a second goal in the third.
The Kings had skated off with a 3-2 double-overtime win on Friday as Jonny Evans collected his fifth goal and third game-winner of the young playoff season.
Powell River had won four straight against the Grizzlies prior to Saturday鈥檚 result, but the Kings looked a little less interested and failed to take what would have been a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Grizzlies goaltender Matthew Galajda, one of five players in this series heading to Cornell University on scholarships, stopped all 30 shots he faced on Saturday after halting 56 in Friday鈥檚 lengthy affair. Wilson made 14 saves while Adamyk stopped eight.
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