BULLDOGS GET THE BETTER OF GRIZZLIES

ALBERNI VALLEY 2VICTORIA 0 (Series tied 1-1)

The Victoria Grizzlies know they let a solid opportunity get away from them on Saturday night.

Jarred Wilson’s power-play goal early in the third period and Chase Paylor’s empty-net goal gave the Alberni Valley Bulldogs a 2-0 win at Weyerhaeuser Arena to even the best-of-five Island Division final series 1-1.

Game 3 goes Monday night at 7:15 p.m. at Bear Mountain Arena and Game 4 reverts back to Alberni on Tuesday. If necessary, Game 5 is set for Wednesday back in Victoria.

Goaltender Jay Deo made 32 saves for the Bulldogs, who were snarly, especially on the penalty kill as they kept the Grizzlies off the scoreboard in a very physical affair.

It was a scoreless opening period of play as the Grizzlies outshot the Bulldogs 12-11 and couldn’t cash in on three power-play chances. Not much changed in the second frame as the teams went to the dressing rooms still looking for the game’s first goal.

Shots were tight, 12 each in the second, before the Bulldogs turned the heat up in the third with four of their six power-play opportunities.

It took just 17 seconds of the final frame to finally get that goal on Wilson’s power-play tally with Stefan Nicholishen in the penalty box for hooking.

Victoria’s power play finished the night 0-for-6 and Brady Rouleau stopped 37 of 38 shots he faced in the Grizzlies’ net.

The visitors knew they had a great chance to grab a stranglehold on the series, a win allowing them to wrap it up at home on Monday.

“That game is huge because then we have a chance in the next three to get that one big win, so that would be massive,” Leo Fitzgerald said late Friday night after Victoria’s 3-2 initial victory. “To come back home with a chance to win it would be great.”

There’ll be no such thing now. The two teams have played each other tight all season, with six games going to overtime.

mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com

Twitter/tc_vicsports

© Copyright 2013

 

SCORING SUMMARY

PERIOD 1

No Scoring

PERIOD 2

No Scoring

PERIOD 3

Alberni Valley Bulldogs at 0:17 (PP) – Jared Wilson from Matthew Hansen and Manny Gialedakis

Alberni Valley Bulldogs at 19:36 (EN)– Chase Paylor from Evan Tironese

 

PENINSULA CO-OP GAS STATION: 3 STARS OF THE GAME

1st STAR

2nd STAR

3rd STAR

Alberni Valley Bulldogs

Jay Deo

Victoria Grizzlies

Brady Rouleau

Alberni Valley Bulldogs

Jared Wilson