The Victoria Grizzlies head out on their second extended road trip of the season this week.
The B.C. Hockey League team plays three Interior Division teams, having had what could be considered a very successful weekend at home.
The Grizzlies downed Island Division rival Powell River 4-2 on Saturday at The Q Centre, one night after holding their own against the Penticton Vees, the No. 1-ranked Junior A team in the country.
The Vees overcame a 2-0 first-period deficit and beat Victoria 4-3 in double overtime.
While a win over Penticton would have been a major notch in the Grizzlies’ belt – taking a point off the Vees is the next best thing – beating the Kings in a key inter-divisional matchup was something the Colwood-based squad could sink their teeth into.
The Grizzlies (8-6-0-3) fell behind 2-0 to Powell River in the opening 2:21, but scored four unanswered goals to knock off the Kings (8-7-0-5).
Matthew Kennedy led the attack with an empty net goal and assists on goals by Jay Mackie and Dane Gibson. Meirs Moore scored the eventual winner on the power play late in the second period.
The previous night, Matthew Serratore scored two minutes into the second overtime period to give the Vees the win.
Penticton (17-3-0-1) made the Grizzlies pay on the power play, going two-for-five. Kennedy, P.J. Conlon and Brett Gruber tallied for Victoria, while goalie Michael Stiliadis stopped 38 of 42 shots to earn the game’s first star.
The Grizzlies play the Smokeaters in Trail on Friday, West Kelowna on Saturday and Vernon on Sunday.
