Rivermen have Victoria Grizzlies on the ropes

Grizzlies forward Andrew Amousse carries the puck past Langley Rivermen defenceman Garrett Valk during the first period at The Q Centre. (DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST)

Brian Drewry

The Langley Rivermen played a stingy defence to stymie a depleted Victoria Grizzlies team and push the Grizzlies to the brink of elimination.

The Rivermen jumped out to a 2-0 lead in Game 4 on Wednesay night at The Q Centre and held on for a 4-1 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven B.C. Hockey League opening round series. The Rivermen will look to wrap it up on Friday night at George Preston Recreation Centre in Langley. If the Grizzlies stave off elimination, Game 6 would be back at The Q Centre on Saturday night.

Max Bulawka and Tyler Schleppe scored goals two minutes apart in the middle of the first period to put the Grizzlies, who were minus three defencemen – Clark Hiebert, Eli Barnett and Michael Adamek – because of injuries, on their heels early.

Noah Liebl had the lone ­Grizzlies goal at the 13:18 mark of the first period.

Andrej Kovacevic struck early in the third for Langley, who are the fourth-place seed in the Coastal Conference, and Max Dukovac rounded out the scoring.

Cole Schwebius made 30 saves in the Grizzlies net, while Ajeet Gundarah stopped 31 Victoria shots to pick up the win.