By Jonathan Hodgson
Photo Credit: Kyle Robinson Photography
February 19, 2017
The Victoria Grizzlies fell in overtime on Sunday for the second straight day.
Matthew Galajda was tremendous, making 38 saves on 40 shots but the Grizzlies were unable to muster enough offence, falling 2-1 in overtime to the Penticton Vees on Sunday afternoon.
(Box Score– http://victoriagrizzlies.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=05c356250a4761887fde8ecb9&id=7b43963503&e=1f9fa2e65b)
The Grizzlies (Now 36-11-5-4, 81 points) have clinched the BCHL’s Island Division with now two games remaining in their regular season.
Penticton (Now 39-13-2-1, 81 points) have clinched the BCHL’s Interior Division and with the win, tie the Grizzlies for third overall in the league.
(BCHL Standings– http://victoriagrizzlies.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=05c356250a4761887fde8ecb9&id=4fe91ef70b&e=1f9fa2e65b)
The Grizzlies were outshot 14-5 in the first period as the home side came out strong, but it was Victoria who would count the only goal of the opening period on Timothy Friedmann’s 16th of the season coming on the powerplay just past the 12-minute mark.
(BCHL Stats– http://victoriagrizzlies.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=05c356250a4761887fde8ecb9&id=7f9c172c28&e=1f9fa2e65b)
The lead stood until late in the second period when Grant Cruikshank fired his 30th goal of the year to bring Penticton even at one entering the third period.
In that third, the goaltenders remained unbeaten, sending the game to overtime.
For the second straight day, the Grizzlies fell in extra time with James Miller delivering the game winner, his fifth goal of the season for Penticton late in overtime.
Matthew Robson stopped 27 of 28 shots in the win for the Vees while Galajda made 38 saves on 40 shots for Victoria.
The Grizzlies finish the regular season with a home-and-home series with the Nanaimo Clippers, Friday, February 24 in Nanaimo and Saturday, February 25 in Victoria.
The first round of the BCHL’s Fred Page Cup Playoffs begins Friday, March 3. The Grizzlies will be the top seed in the Island Division and face off against the fourth seed, either the Nanaimo Clippers or Cowichan Valley Capitals in a best-of-seven series.
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