Brian Drewry / Times Colonist
JANUARY 3, 2020 10:03 PM
The Victoria Grizzlies are happy to see the last of the Wenatchee Wild this regular season.
After Friday night’s 8-0 loss to the Wild at the Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee, Washington, the Grizzlies finished the two-game season series being outscored 10-0.
The Wild (20-16-3-1), who beat the Grizzlies 2-0 at The Q Centre on Oct. 20, opened the scoring 13 minutes into the first period and then pulled away with two more goals in the first three minutes of the second period that chased Victoria goaltender Blake Wood from the net as he was replaced by fellow-rookie Joe Howe after giving up three goals on eight shots.
But Howe couldn’t stop the bleeding, allowing three goals on the next seven shots before he made way for Wood’s return and Victoria went into the second intermission down 6-0.
Luke Ormsby opened the scoring 13 minutes into the first, but it was the middle period that the Wild went, well, wild.
Nick Cafarelli and Drew Bavaro scored before the period was three minutes old, then at the midway point, Noah Lugli and Drake Usher scored 42 seconds apart. Tyler Young rounded out the onslaught with a goal at the 12:07 mark.
Ethan Wolthers and Brett Chorske added third-period goals for the Wild.
It was the first game following the B.C. Hockey League Christmas break for both teams and the Grizzlies (15-25-0) entered the contest having won four of their last five games.
Wood finished with 20 saves on the night, while Daniel Chenard turned aside 23 shots for his second shutout over the Grizzlies this season.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Grizzlies as Victoria heads north to Penticton to face the Interior Division-leading Vees tonight at the South Okanagan Centre. Then they’ll head to Surrey for a Sunday afternoon matchup with the Eagles.
LOOSE PUCKS: Defenceman Brady MacDonald returned to the Grizzlies’ lineup after missing 18 games with an upper-body injury. . . . Following this weekend road trip, the Grizzlies return home to host the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday night and the Powell River Kings on Saturday night at The Q Centre.
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