Through two games of their opening-round playoff series against the Nanaimo Clippers, the Victoria Grizzlies have found the back of the net just once.
It’s unusual territory for a team that boasts offensive firepower up front and on the blueline and was outscored by just four other B.C. Hockey League clubs during the regular season.
On Saturday the Grizzlies were blanked 3-0 in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series a night after they escaped with a 1-0 win. The 1-1 series will shift to Nanaimo for Game 3 on Tuesday.
“Nanaimo’s a tough team to play against and they’re really working hard to shut down our offensive guys and so far they’ve had success,” said Grizzlies head coach Craig Didmon.
With captain Cody Van Lierop looking on from the penalty box, the Clippers opened the scoring 7:27 into the opening period to give the visitors a jolt of confidence, the Clippers having beaten the Grizzlies just once in nine tries this season heading into Game 2.
Van Lierop was in the box again in the second when the Clippers extended their lead courtesy of forward Matt Creamer. Jamie Collins added an empty netter in the game’s final minute to close the scoring.
Cole Pickup, the team’s leading scorer in the regular season, had the Grizzlies’ best chance to score when he dangled around a Nanaimo defender and fired a wrist shot off the far post in the second.
Van Lierop was stymied in the latter half of the third on a rebound in tight during one of the Grizzlies’ six fruitless power plays.
“It’s one of those things, (power plays) can win or lose a series for you so we’ve got to figure that out pretty quick,” Didmon said.
The Grizzlies’ boss said the two day break before Game 3 should serve his club well.
“Monday we can get to practice and work on some things. I think we’ve just got to get a clear head and get back to work then Tuesday we’ve got to go in there and win in a tough place,” he said.
Game 4 will take place on Wednesday in Nanaimo and the series will shift back to The Q Centre for Game 5 on Friday.
