Nineteen games is a lot of hockey in some ways. But the Victoria Grizzlies are doing their best to get a head start on the home stretch of the B.C. Hockey League regular season.
The Grizz, who open a three-game road trip in Prince George on Friday night (Jan. 15), are playing hungry and posted their third straight win since returning from the holiday break, 7-1 over the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Tuesday in Duncan.
P.J. Conlon scored a natural hat trick with three consecutive goals, while linemate Cole Pickup scored once and set up three others to lead the GrizzliesB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™ attack on the night.
After a scoreless first, Victoria carried a 2-0 lead into the second intermission, then poured on the steam in the third, extending their lead to 5-0 before the CapitalsB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™ Kade Kehoe scored an unassisted power play goal at the 11:19 mark.
Joseph Visconti, Brayden Gelsinger and Nick Guiney also scored in the win.
Grizzlies goaltender Matthew Galajda continued to hold a hot hand, turning aside 32 of 33 shots. HeB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s allowed just four goals in the past three games to lower his goals-against average to 2.28, third best in the BCHL behind the Penticton VeesB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™ league-leading tandem of Anthony Brodeur (1.83) and Zachary Driscoll (1.94).
As they climb back toward the .500 mark, the fourth-place Grizzlies (17-20-4-0, 38 points) have Island Division rivals Cowichan Valley (47 pts.) and Powell River (46 pts.) in their sights.
Of note is the fact TuesdayB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s win was the GrizzliesB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™ fourth straight over the Caps after losing their first three head-to-head games this season. Victoria has also beat the Kings two straight and five of out six times this year.
editor@goldstreamgazette.com