Usually, when your goaltenders carry stratospheric goals-against averages of 6.06 and 7.80 and failing save percentages of .883 and .815, the talk is in a certain vein.

But when they are both coming off 50-plus save performances, in one game, then the discussion tends to take a different twist.

Which brings us to the Victoria Grizzlies’ netminding tandem of Taylor Pears and Nicholas Taylor, who have been saddled with the duties since the B.C. Hockey League trade deadline and injury bug tore through the local club’s lineup the last few weeks.

Pears, 20, turned aside 52 of 54 shots in last weekend’s 2-1 loss to the Powell River Kings.

Taylor, 19, made 51 stops in a 4-4 tie in Surrey two weekends ago, the team’s only point since Jan. 6.

“The first weekend here I was a bit nervous,” admitted Pears. “It had been a while and I kind of had a rough ride the last few years, before getting here. It just kind of clicked against Powell River.

“I wasn’t as worried about anything. I just focused on stopping the next shot and keeping it simple. I had a lot of fun and the guys played pretty well. It just worked out, I guess. Maybe it was just the timing and the team we played.”

Pears, who is expected to get the call tonight in Coquitlam against the Express, had a few stints in the BCHL, including as a backup in Powell River. He went to the league finals three seasons ago against Vernon. Pears also played in Cowichan Valley and Quesnel, and ended up in Kerry Park with the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League team.

He had another tryout back in Victoria after venturing to junior leagues in Boston and Texas, but eventually came home and quit hockey. He finished courses and entered the engineering program at the University of Victoria, where he was playing when he got the call from the Grizzlies.

“It’s been a bit of a rough go, so I’m here, enjoying it and not taking anything for granted,” said Pears. “I kind of had a feeling, and I can’t explain it, that something would come up.

“Given the history, my parents were like, ‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ At the end of the day, it’s an opportunity to play your

20-year-old year. You can’t say no to that, and it’s your home town.”

So now Pears tends goal and works as an electrician with his dad, Geoffrey, before he returns to school in the fall.

“I’m just here to work hard and do as best as I can,” said the six-feet, 160-pounder, who probably lost five pounds in the loss to Powell River in which he was simply outstanding. “Yeah, I think I’m in the 150-zone this week.”

The same is true for Taylor, a five-foot-10, 170-pounder, who took the spotlight in his 52-save outing in Surrey.

“Mine was a fun game to play in,” Taylor said of his 51 saves. “A new team, new players; it takes some adjusting. There’s been some miscommunication that I’m sure you’ve seen on the ice.”

Playing Junior B with Grandview (after a trade from Port Moody) in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League on the Mainland, Taylor was brought in after the Grizzlies traded Jamie Tucker to Dauphin of the Manitoba junior league on Jan. 10.

“It came completely out of the blue,” admitted Taylor, a White Rock native. “I love it. I love the lifestyle, the fans, the city and you always want to play the best hockey that you can.”

He played an outstanding game in Surrey and he and Pears will experience more of the same from here on in.

“We might have to get 52 saves every game, the way this is going,” said Grizzlies’ general manager and assistant coach Victor Gervais. “I wonder if they can play like that again?”

BEAR’S DEN: The Grizzlies will be without captain Kevin Smith this weekend, but he may return from a recurring shoulder injury next weekend.