Victoria, BC ~ The Cowichan Valley Capitals defeated the Victoria Grizzlies 6-2 on Saturday night at the Q Centre in Colwood to snag their 36th win of the season.
Victoria started about as well as you could hope, with Maddux Martin (13th) finishing a centering pass from Artur Gross less than two minutes in.
Luke Dekay (2nd) tied things for the visitors seven minutes later off a turnover in the Grizzlies zone before Michael Ryan (7th) took advantage of some weak ice in the Grizzlies’ slot due to a late backcheck and wired a wrist shot top shelf. 2-1 Cowichan 12 minutes in.
Maddux Martin would once again get things square for the Grizzlies at 14:02 when he tripped a point shot from Reece Gault that passed Jaiden Sharma in the Caps’ goal. Martin now has 11 goals in 12 games with the Grizzlies since being acquired from Salmon Arm.
Tristan Gravenor put a dampener on the period for Victoria, making it 3-2 Caps at the intermission with his 22nd with just over a minute left.
The second period was all Capitals, scoring the only two goals of the frame. Tristan Gravenor got his second of the game and 23rd of the season at 6:18, and Ryan Harvey netted his 11th for them at 9:46. 5-2 Capitals after 40 against a disinterested-looking Grizzlies squad.
Cowichan added one more in the third period from Adam Lang (6th), who struck with a power-play goal at 11:14.
The third saw some rough stuff due to frustration from the Grizzlies. Max Anderson dropped the mitts with Andrew Cowgill halfway through the frame and was tossed for taking a take punch at Cowgill after the officials had gotten involved. Eddy Spytz was then kicked out of the game for what was assessed as a five-minute major and game misconduct for an illegal check to the Head. The call was certainly questionable to all parties, as the play looked clean upon further review.
Jaiden Sharma made 27 saves for the Caps en route to his third win of the year, getting him the third star of the game. Maddux Martin’s two-goal performance was good enough for second star, while Tristan Gravenor got the first star nod with two tallies as well.
Mikus Vecvanags was shelled in the Grizzlies’ crease, having no chance on any of the Cowichan goals and facing 46 shots. He made 40 saves.
The Grizzlies are back at it next weekend with a home-and-home coming up against the Nanaimo Clippers
