IT’S DO OR DIE FOR ROYALS; GRIZZLIES BACK IN GROOVE

The Victoria Grizzlies not only managed to find their jerseys, they also got their groove back on Saturday, stealing a 2-0 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs to even their best-of-seven B.C. Hockey League semi-final series 1-1.

After a 7-3 thumping the previous night — in which they had to play with borrowed minor hockey jerseys and mismatched socks as their kits were left behind in Victoria — the Grizzlies managed to wrestle home-ice advantage away from the Chiefs.

Keyvan Mokhtari, the doubleovertime hero from Game 7 in the Island Division final series, scored a power-play goal at 18:58 of the second period, despite the visitors being outshot 20-14 after two periods at Prospera Centre.

Mokhtari then added an emptynetter with 1:15 to go in the third, one of just three shots the visitors recorded in the final frame as the Grizzlies escaped with the win.

Mattew Galajda bounced back from a shaky Game 1 to record his league-leading third shutout of the post-season in goal for Victoria. After allowing five goals on just 15 shots in Game 1, Galajda thwarted all 39 he faced on Saturday, including 19 in the third.

“That was the given going into the game was that we knew we would have that kind of performance in net,” Grizzlies GM and head coach Craig Didmon said of his usually reliable netminder.

“It was a greasy road win. The shots didn’t really match the game. They threw a lot of shots from outside. We played the way we wanted to play. I thought we had the better chances, just not as many shots on net.”

Chilliwack had won six straight games entering the night.

Game 3 takes place at The Q Centre on Tuesday, followed by Game 4 on Wednesday, also in Colwood.

Mark Sinclair stopped just 16 shots in goal for Chilliwack as the Grizzlies mustered only 17 in total.

IN THE DEN: Grizzlies forward Jamie Rome has accepted a scholarship to Western Michigan University, which is coached by former NHL head man Andy Murray. … Chiefs leading point-getter Jordan Kawaguchi officially recorded six assists in Game 1 after initially being credited with five. … The Penticton Vees bounced back from a 3-2 loss in Game 1 Friday to down Vernon 4-2 on Saturday, leaving the other semi-final series also tied at 1-1.