The Nanaimo Clippers continued their fine playoff form on Tuesday evening, beating the Alberni Valley Bulldogs by a 3-1 score and taking a 1-0 lead in their Coastal Conference semi-finals series despite being outshot by a wide margin.
Andrew Gladiuk opened the scoring for Nanaimo at the 4:35 mark of the first period on a Clippers' power-play before Joe Perry doubled the lead six minutes later. Matt Hatch brought the Bulldogs within a goal on a second period man-advantage, but the road side received an insurance marker from Bryaden Jaw early in the third to salt away the win.
Clippers netminder Loic Boivin was the story of the game, allowing just one goal on a night where his team was outshot by a 49-21 margin. Boivin was named the game's first star, while Victor Newell picked up assists on both of Nanaimo's first period goals.
The Bulldogs will have their second crack at Boivin tonight when the teams meet for the second time before the series shifts to Nanaimo for Games 3 and 4.
Meanwhile, the Powell River Kings continued to roll on home ice against the Langley Chiefs this season, scoring six times in a ten-minute span during the second period en route to a 7-1 victory in Game 1.
Following a scoreless opening 20 minutes, the Kings got to work in the second with goals from Chad Niddery, Ben Schmidt, Jordan Grant, Matt Garbowsky, Daniel Carr and Mat Bodie. Langley's Dennis Robertson and Garbowsky then traded goals in the third period.
Bodie, the Kings' captain, and Garbowsky each finished the night with three points, while Josh Watson picked up the win in net with a 25-save effort. Langley starter Wyatt Galley was relieved by Mark Friesen following the fourth Powell River tally, and Friesen allowed three goals on 27 shots in 32:30 of action.
The Chiefs will have the opportunity on Wednesday to even the series at 1-1 prior to returning to the Lower Mainland for Games 3 and 4 this weekend.
