Special teams was the difference on Monday night (April 22) as the Victoria Grizzlies beat the Surrey Eagles 5-3, taking a 2-1 series lead.
The Grizzlies had a quick start to the game as Oliver Genest and Nathan King scored 56 seconds apart in the first five minutes of the game.
Surrey got on the board before the end of the period as Aaron Schwartz scored his fourth of the postseason at the 14:30 mark to cut the deficit in half.
The only goal of the second frame came off the stick of Grizzlies forward Luc Pelletier at the 1:25 mark. His second goal of the playoffs was a power play marker and assisted by Charlie Gollob and King.
It remained 3-1 until the 11:32 mark of the third period when Gollob scored a power play goal, which turned out to be the difference in the game. His third goal of the postseason completed a three-point night.
Surrey stormed back as Massimo Fazio and Micah Berger scored to make it 4-3 but that’s as close as they would come.
Grizzlies’ Juilan Cull added an empty net goal to make it 5-3.
Both teams each fired 43 shots on net as Oliver Auyeung-Ashton made 40 saves in the win.
With the win, the Grizzlies now have a 2-1 series lead. Game four is set for Tuesday night at the Q Centre. Puck drop is at 7 p.m.
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