A 39-save shutout performance from Kurtis Chapman backstopped the Victoria Grizzlies to a 6-0 victory over the Nanaimo Clippers in a sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Hockey League matinée on Sunday at The Q Centre.
The first period was tight and scoreless before a five-goal explosion put the game away for Victoria in the second period as Nico Somerville, Marty Westhaver, Edward Yan, Carter Berger and New York Rangers draft pick Riley Hughes scored in a well-balanced Grizzlies onlslaught.
Cameron Thompson added the final goal in the third period.
The Grizzlies got good production from its blue line with Berger having a three-point afternoon and Jeremie Bucheler adding four assists as Victoria put 33 shots on Nanaimo goaltenders Jordan Naylor and Landon Pavlisin.
League co-scoring leader and Victoria captain Alex Newhook had two assists and has 34 points on the season.
Three of the Victoria goals were on the power play, which was highly effective in finishing three-for-four. The Grizzlies’ special teams were a factor at both ends as the penalty kill held the Clippers zero-for-three on Nanaimo power plays.
The Grizzlies moved to 14-7-1 atop the Island Division, while the Clippers fell to 7-13.
The Grizzlies head over the Malahat on Saturday to play the Cowichan Valley Capitals in Duncan in the first of five straight road games for Victoria.