Grizzlies salvage tie in road trip finale
The B.C. Hockey League’s top power play was minus a lot of firepower on Sunday afternoon at Nicola Valley Memorial Arena, but it came to life in the nic of time to gain a valuable point for the Victoria Grizzlies.
T.J. Friedmann’s power-play goal with eight minutes remaining in regulation time salvaged a 2-2 tie against the host Merritt Centennials, allowing the Grizzlies to stay even in points with the Powell River Kings in the race for the Island Division crown.
The Grizzlies, already without leading point-getter Alex Newhook entering the threegame weekend road trip, lost the services of leading goal scorer Justin Michaelian early in the road trip opener on Friday night in Salmon Arm.
But the Grizzlies remaining big guns — Jamie Rome and Ethan Nother — teamed up to set up Friedmann for the game-tier after the Victoria power play had gone 0-for-3 to that point in the game.
Nothing was solved in overtime so the Grizzlies record stands at 30-18-4-4, and they are tied with Powell River in points with 68 after the Kings beat the Chilliwack Chiefs 7-1 at Hap Parker Arena on Sunday. The Nanaimo Clippers are two points back but Powell River has three games remaining in the regular season, while Victoria and Nanaimo have two.
On Sunday, the Centennials opened the scoring seven minutes into the first when Brendan Schneider beat Grizzlies netminder Kurtis Chapman from in close.
Rome brought the Grizzlies even midway through the second period with his 22nd goal of the season. And Rome’s two points on the day moved him ahead of the injured Newhook for the team lead with 67, which is also good for second in the BCHL scoring race.
The Centennials’ power play went to work later in the second with Tyrell Buckely beating Chapman to give Merritt back the lead.
Chapman finished with 44 saves, while Austin Roden made 47 saves in the Merritt net.
The Grizzlies wrap up the regular season with a pair of home games this week. On Thursday the Alberni Valley Bulldogs pay a visit to The Q Centre, while the Surrey Eagles are the visitors for the regular season finale on Sunday afternoon.