The Nanaimo Clippers may be the Coastal Conference's number six seed, but that hasn't stopped the club from making an early statement in their first-round series against the Victoria Grizzlies. On Saturday, the Clippers came from two goals down to eventually top their hosts in a 4-3 overtime triumph.
Alex Allan and Dylan Nowakowski scored power-play and shorthanded goals respectively to give the Grizzlies a first period lead. But Nanaimo charged back in the middle frame, receiving goals from Tristan Lowenberger, Teal Burns and Kyle Kramer. Undeterred, Victoria forced overtime on a marker late in regulation from Joel Lowry, but Clippers leading scorer Luc Olivier Blain ended the game at 5:59 of the first extra frame.
Nanaimo outshot the Grizzlies by a 33-24 margin on the night and received a strong outing from netminder Loic Boivin in the win. Victoria's Colin Fernandes turned aside 29 shots in a losing cause.
In other Coastal Conference playoff action:
- The Powell River Kings took care of business on home ice for the second consecutive evening, scoring once in each period en route to a 3-1 victory over the Cowichan Valley Capitals. Mitch Labreche, Teagan Waugh and Chad Niddery lit the lamp for the home side, while Chris Daniels was the lone Caps skater to beat Kings' netminder Josh Watson. Powell River had a decisive advantage in shots on goals, outshooting their visitors by a 46-17 margin.
- Colton Beck and Josh Myers each posted three-point nights, leading the Langley Chiefs to a 4-3 victory over Lower Mainland rivals Surrey. The Chiefs receieved an early marker from Myers that stood up until the third period, when the clubs traded six goals. Langley's power-play came through on three of nine opportunities, including back-to-back chances midway through the final frame. Wyatt Galley received the call in net for the hosts and stopped 27 shots in the win.
