Mario Annicchiarico / Times Colonist
Photo Credit: Kyle Robinson Photography
JANUARY 20, 2017 10:31 PM
Defenceman Jake Stevens scored twice and Victoria Grizzlies forwards Nick Guiney and Cole Pickup picked up Friday right where they left off the night before as the visitors defeated the Cowichan Valley Capitals for the second time in two evenings.
Guiney and Pickup scored singles to go with Stevens’ pair in the Grizzlies’ 4-2 B.C. Hockey League win at the Island Savings Centre in Duncan.
The Grizzlies, once again, showed discipline problems early as Stevens and Brett Stirling were both fingered for stick infractions in the opening 5:37 of the game. Victoria managed to kill both penalties off.
Stevens then opened the scoring at 11:03 of the first period and Guiney made it 2-0 late in the stanza as he recorded his third goal in two nights after the Grizzlies edged the Capitals 5-4 in overtime on Thursday.
Pickup, who collected his sixth game-winner the night previous, made it 3-0 at 7:27 of the second period before Capitals sniper Ayden MacDonald scored his second in the two-game set less than six minutes later.
Stevens and Michael Montambault traded goals in the third period and goaltender Matthew Galajda made 37 saves to earn the victory. Lane Michasiw faced 22 shots in the Cowichan net.
The Grizzlies, who improve to 29-10-4-3 overall, are also an impressive 23-2-1-3 when the team scores first and 20-4-1-3 within the Island Division.
Victoria, already without captain Cody Van Lierop (illness), also scratched T.J. Friedmann (neck), Justin Michaelian (knee) and Nathan Looysen (illness). The Grizzlies will next play Wednesday in Port Alberni before returning home Friday against the defending champion West Kelowna Warriors.
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
