Matt Kennedy is gone for a lengthy spell with a broken collarbone, but the Victoria Grizzlies welcomed back Thomas Gobeil with open, celebrating arms on Friday night.
The slick Quebec native, who missed both lopsided losses last weekend, scored his eighth goal in 10 games as a Grizzlie (and 21st of the season) early on a power play in pacing Victoria to an 8-4 win over the visiting Alberni Valley Bulldogs at The Q Centre.
He ultimately took a back seat, however, as Brett Gruber recorded a hat-trick (the last goal into an empty net) and now has 34 goals for the Grizzlies. Linemate Dane Gibson had a sparkling five assists.
Victoria takes over third place in the Island Division standings of the B.C. Hockey League, but the Bulldogs do have a game in hand. The Grizzlies are now 5-1-0-1 against the ’Dawgs this season with one more game scheduled on Wednesday in Port Alberni.
It was just a 1-1 draw over midway through the second period before the scoring outburst began Victoria was being outshot 19-9 at that point.
“I thought it was a decent game. I don’t think we were our best. I think there are still areas to work on,” said Grizzlies general manager and head coach Craig Didmon. “It’s important we won that game tonight, it puts us into third place. But it’s still about trying to be a perfect hockey club and there are still parts to work on.”
Jay Mackie, Zach Dixon, Ayden MacDonald and Cole Pickup (short-handed) also scored, while Mike Stiliadis made 35 saves for Victoria.
Mitch Makin had a pair for the Bulldogs. Tyler Povelofskie and Drew Blackmun also tallied for the visitors.
“It’s like playoff atmosphere, playoff style,” Grizzlies captain Shawn McBride said of playing the Bulldogs. “It seems to be that way with that team.”
With the win, Victoria improves to 23-18-1-10 and sits five points back of second-place Powell River, which lost 4-2 to Merritt on Friday. The Grizzlies have two games in hand.
The Grizzlies play host to Prince George tonight at 7.
IN THE DEN: The BCHL will use the same playoff format as last year: A best-of-seven series for the opening two rounds with 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3 in each division before moving to a round-robin for the top three division teams in the third round. The first series will open March 3.
