Victoria Grizzlies 6 Coquitlam Express 5 Feb 10, 2012

The 12 game winless slump is officially over. The Victoria Grizzlies used a four goal explosion in the second period to defeat the Coquitlam Express 6-5 on Friday night before a crowd of 1,015 in Coquitlam. Despite missing Kevin Smith, Jaden Schmeisser to injury and dressing only four defencemen and thirteen skaters in total and giving up a season high 63 shots the Grizzlies were able to emerge victorious thanks to the goaltending of Taylor Pears and some clutch sniping from an unexpected source in newcomer Mitchell Smith.

The Kaiser-Hansen-Lawson line continued to scorch Coquitlam after putting up five goals last Friday night in Victoria the line got the Grizz out to an early lead with some help from Stefan Gonzales who made a great cross-ice breakout pass from his own zone to spring a streaking Hansen who set-up up Kaiser for the first goal of the game. Express forward John Siemer equalized the game at one soon after and it stayed that way through 20 minutes. Early in the second period the Grizzlies found themselves in some trouble as Cole Gelley, Stefan Gonzales and then Braxton Bilous took consecutive minor penalties within a 33 second span. That left the Grizzlies facing a long 5 on 3 penalty kill with Nolan De Jong as the only defenceman available. Remarkably the Grizz bent but did not break as they only surrendered one power play goal on what could have been a turning point in the game. The Grizz would fight back though as shortly after the penalties expired Mitchell Smith banged home his first BCHL goal to tie it at two. After Siemer scored again to make it 3-2 the Grizz went to work, much like last Friday in Victoria where they scored 3 goals in the last 4:01 of the second period, this game the Grizz scored 3 goals in the last 6:23 of the second period to take a 5-3 lead after 40 minutes. Alex Holland, Coltyn Hansen and Mitchell Smith scored the late goals for the Grizzlies. Coquitlam came out firing everything at the net in the third but aside from a goal 1:22 into the period by Brady Shaw and a goal with just 8 seconds left Taylor Pears was up to the challenge as he turned aside 27 third period shots. Alex Holland scored what turned out to be the game winner with 1:20 to go in the game to give the Grizz some breathing room as he was sprung free by the defence tandem of Bilous and De Jong.
Grizzlies game thoughts: What can be said only 13 skaters and still able to beat a playoff bound team. Gutsy effort by everyone, Taylor Pears was absolutely incredible with 58 saves. Congratulations Great timing by Mitchell Smith for his first two BCHL goals, congratulations. Alex Holland with 2 goals and an assist played a strong game. The top line of Hansen-Kaiser-Lawson continued their strong play with goals by Hansen and Kaiser. The 4 defencemen played well and chipped in offensively with assists by Braxton Bilous and Stefan Gonzales. Both also played a good physical game with Bilous using a Keith Ballard like hip-check to send Express star Brady Shaw flying. Nolan De Jong chipped in 3 assists and logged a ton of ice-time as the only defenceman not penalized in the game.