Victoria Grizzlies 4 at Surrey Eagles 4 South Surrey Arena Jan 29, 2012

What a difference a couple extra players can make. With APs Connor Krupa and Matthew Biagioni joining the Grizzlies for their game in Surrey the Grizzlies were able to dress 9 forwards and 6 defenceman. Against Surrey the Grizzlies jumped out to thier first lead since the trade deadline when Chase Kaiser finished off a shorthanded set-up from captain Kevin Smith. It was then Kaiser's turn to be the playmaker on one of the nicest goals of the season as he took an outlet pass from Jaden Schmeisser and then made a nice cross-ice pass to Coltyn Hansen who did the rest using his outstanding speed to go wide on the defenceman and then beat the goaltender with a backhand deke to the fivehole. With Surrey down 2-0 their fourth line tried to spark them with a fight as Colton Mackie who is second on the Surrey team in PIMs jumped Cam Lawson. After Lawson showed discipline and refused to drop the gloves the Grizz were rewarded with a 7 minute powerplay although the Grizzlies could not capitalize on the powerplay they would increase their lead to 3-0 shortly after on a goal by Alex Holland on a nice set-up from youngsters Connor Krupa and Myles Powell. Surrey would have a goal waved off for goalie interference before making it 3-1 but less then 2 minutes later Coltyn Hansen would snipe a wrist shot home top shelf to increase the lead to 4-1. Linderos but score less than a minute after that to make the score 4-2 after 2 periods.
The third period and overtime of this game was Taylor time for the Grizzlies as goaltender Nick Taylor played lights out aside from two quick Surrey strikes 7 seconds apart with 5 minutes to play in the third period. The tired Grizz were outshot 27-6 in the final 30 minutes of the game and Taylor made save after save including a wonderful pokecheck on a breakaway in the second OT period. The Grizz had their own chance to win it on an OT breakaway but Chase Kaiser was denied on a nice pad save by Surrey goalie Andrew Hunt.
The effort that the Grizzlies put in this weekend was undeniable with a short bench for 3 games in 3 days the players could hardly skate at the end of double OT, Kevin Smith and Stefan Gonzales both had opportunities to join an odd-man rush in overtime and both appeared to have run out of gas and have nothing left in their legs. Both players showed why they have letters on their jersey as both must have played close to 40 minutes each in the game.

Nice touch after the game by second star Nick Taylor and the rest of the Grizzlies to salute their many fans, friends and family members who came to the game and turned the South Surrey arena into a Grizzlies den for the evening.

Game thoughts:  What a great effort by the Grizzlies on Sunday on the backend of a 3 games in 3 days roadtrip. Nick Taylor was very good in the Grizzlies net making 51 saves and being named second star, his best save of the net may have been a pokecheck on a breakaway by Morley in double OT. The Grizzlies defence played outstanding keeping the shots mostly to the outside, Kevin Smith and Stefan Gonzales must have played 30-35 minutes each and were very effective at both ends of the ice. Braxton Bilous and Nolan De Jong weren't far behind in minutes played and both also made numerous good defensive plays to thwart Surrey scoring chances. Coltyn Hansen was the best skater on the ice for either team using his great speed to score two goals including a highlight reel goal in the first period. He also could have easily had a hat-trick as he hit the post a few times. Chase Kaiser and Alex Holland both scored goals and also showed some veteran leadership with good two-way efforts and solid defensive zone play.

Attendance: 1025

Shots on Goal: Victoria 24
Surrey 55