Despite being heavily outshot, the Victoria Grizzlies found a way to win Game 3 of their second-round British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) playoff series, defeating the Cowichan Valley Capitals 6-3 Tuesday night at the Q Centre in front of 875 fans.
The result gives the Grizzlies a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series and puts them one win away from advancing to the Western Conference Final for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
The Capitals controlled much of the play early, outshooting Victoria 16-6 in the first period and taking the lead midway through the frame on a solo rush by Nicolas Beaudoin.
Despite being outplayed, the Grizzlies found an answer five minutes later when a fortunate bounce off the end boards landed on the stick of Easton Kovacs, who buried the tying goal in front of a surprised Cowichan netminder, Erick Roest.
Victoria took its first lead early in the second period when Dan D’Alessandro capped off a three-on-two rush with help from Thomas Molson and Will Schumacher.
Reegan Hiscock extended the advantage midway through the frame by banking a shot off a scrambling Roest, sending the Grizzlies to the second intermission up 3-1.
The third period started with more pressure from Victoria, and it paid off quickly. Landon Mackie scored his fifth goal of the postseason, chasing Roest from the Cowichan net after allowing 4 goals on 16 shots. Dylan Krick would come in for relief of Roest.
But the change didn't slow Victoria's roll with Molson adding another five minutes later, slipping past the defence for a breakaway finish that made it 5-1 on the back of five unanswered goals.
THOMAS MOLSON ON THE BREAKAWAY!
— BCHL (@BCHockeyLeague) April 23, 2025
The Grizzlies forward capitalizes all alone to give Victoria some 3rd period insurance@TomWilkepxp | @BCHLGrizzVideo pic.twitter.com/66uTxPigDp
Cowichan showed signs of life with two quick goals from Luca Primerano and Camden Bajzer, scoring less than a minute apart to cut the lead to 5-3 near the halfway point of the third.
But the Grizzlies locked things down defensively and added an empty-net goal from Julian Cull with just over a minute remaining to secure the win.
Molson led the way offensively with a goal and two assists and was named the game’s first star.
Grizzlies' goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton turned aside 39 shots to earn second-star honours, while Kovacs, who had the key equalizer in the first, was named third star.
Game 4 goes Wednesday night at the Q Centre at 7 p.m.
In the other Western Conference semi-final, the Chilliwack Chiefs carry a 2-1 series lead into their Game 4 matchup against the Port Alberni Bulldogs. The two winners will meet in the Western Final.
