The Victoria Grizzlies, third overall in the B.C. Hockey League, were looking forward to a showdown tonight in Wenatchee with the second-overall Wild.
But they must have forgot they had to play a decent Rivermen team in Langley first.
The Grizzlies came up with one of their worst 40 minutes of the season Friday night at the George Preston Recreation Centre, falling 5-4 to the Rivermen, who at 17-14-5-2 hold down the fourth-and-final playoff spot in the Mainland Division.
It started on a good note for the Grizzlies on Friday, as Tyler Welsh scored his 19th goal of the season just 23 seconds into the game. But the good news ended there for the Grizzlies, who fall to 25-7-3-4.
The Rivermen scored four times in the opening 20 minutes, forcing Grizzlies head coach Craig Didmon to pull No. 1 goalie Matthew Galajda in favour of Tony Rehm to start the second period.
Rehm was solid the rest of the way and the Grizzlies made a late push in the third period, getting goals from Cole Pickup and Cam Thompson to get within one of the Rivermen, but Victoria’s bad start came back to haunt them.
Zac Masson, Cam Ginnetti, Max Faufman and Gavin Payne all beat Galajda in the first as the Rivermen had a 4-2 lead after 20 minutes. Galajda, who came into the game with the second best goals-against average in the league at 2.11, faced 18 shots in his one period of work. Marty Westhaver had the Grizzlies’ other first-period goal.
Sean Gulka scored early in the second to put the Rivermen up 5-2. The Rivermen improve to 10-5-2-1 at home.
Bo Didur made 43 saves in the Langley net.
Pickup finished with a goal and two assists to bring his team-leading point total to 50.
Following tonight’s contest in Wenatchee, the Grizzlies will return north to Surrey to take on Eagles on Sunday at 4 p.m.
LOOSE PUCKS: The Grizzlies were again without captain Cody Van Lierop (illness) and forward Keyvan Mokhtari (injury). Rookie Justin Michaelian left the game in the second period with an injury and did not return. … The Grizzlies’ next home game is Thursday when the Nanaimo Clippers pay a visit to The Q Centre.
