Langley, BC ~ The Victoria Grizzlies held on for a 5-4 win on Saturday night to make it a perfect mainland trip and head home with four points.
Langley got things started by taking advantage of a Grizzlies giveaway during a man advantage, and Aaron Reierson (17) went back the other way to beat Spencer Michnik to make it 1-0 on a shorthanded goal at 5:12.
They added to that lead just over six minutes later at 11:33 on Parker Forlin’s 4th of the season off another giveaway by a Grizzly. Victoria answered back less than two minutes later when Michael Dowdall (4th) cleaned up some scraps in front of the net for a 2-1 Langley lead after twenty minutes.
Aaron Reierson (18th) caught the Grizzlies sleeping just 17 seconds into the second to restore the Rivermen two two-goal lead, but Victoria was able to get the game back to square before the start of the third.
First, Levi Eiter (5th) took a nifty pass from Cooper Faughnan in front and beat Dylan Johnson on a deke to the backhand with 9:35 gone in the frame. With just over a minute left in the period, Reece Gault (2nd) sifted a left point shot through traffic and through the legs of Johnson to tie things up heading into the third.
Victoria took the lead 2:05 into the period when Dan D’Alessandro (2nd) put a wrist shot into the top corner during a delayed penalty, but the Rivermen answered right back on a tally from Christian Chouha (9th), who took a breakaway pass and went backhand-forehand-low glove for a nice finish.
Victoria continued to push, and Trae Johnson (4th) retook the lead with just under 13 minutes remaining after a splendid no-look pass in front from Landen Ward.
That lead would stand, and Victoria rode things out to a 5-4 victory, improving to 12-9-0 on the season and sweeping the weekend on the mainland. They are back in action on Saturday night at home against the Powell River Kings before their Teddy Bear Toss on Sunday night at the Q Centre at 2:00 a.m. for their biggest game of the season. Tickets are available for purchase BY CLICKING HERE.
