The Victoria Grizzlies saw their three-game winning streak halted by the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Friday night.
So on Saturday, they started a new one.
Thanks to two-point nights from Richard Baran, Charlie Gollob and Tobias Pitka, the Grizzlies got back to their winnings ways with a 4-2 ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Hockey League victory over the Coquitlam Express in front of 1,326 fans at The Q Centre.
The Grizzlies used their power play to take control, with Baran, who’s committed to NCAA Div. 1 Arizona State for next fall, beginning a run of three straight Victoria power-play goals at the midway point of the second period.
Nathan King and Oliver Genest struck with the man-advantage inside the first three minutes of the third period and the Grizzlies (4-2) were on their way.
Joseph Odyniec broke Grizzlies netminder Owen Bresson’s shutout bid at the five-minute mark of the third, and then Odyniec put a brief scare into The Q Centre crowd when he struck again with six minutes left in the final frame.
But Landon Mackie’s first goal of the season with two minutes left in regulation put the game on ice for the Grizzlies.
Bresson made 23 saves for his first victory of the season, while Adam Manji suffered the loss while making 39 saves.
Coquitlam, which was coming off a win over Cowichan Valley on Friday night in Duncan, saw its record drop to 2-3-0-1.
Next up for the Grizzlies is a trip to Port Alberni on Friday to face the Bulldogs, then it’s back home on Saturday to play host to the Langley Rivermen.
LOOSE PUCKS: Grizzlies forward Jacksenn Hungle this week committed to NCAA Div. 1 Canisius College in Buffalo. The 19-year-old from Victoria will start play for the Golden Griffins next fall. … Elsewhere in the BCHL on Saturday, the Powell River Kings beat the Capitals 2-1 in Duncan, and the Alberni Valley Bulldogs picked up a 4-2 home-ice win over the Nanaimo Clippers.
