The Nanaimo Clippers are continuing to play the underdog role to perfection. Despite being outshot for the third time in their second round series — 27-21 on Thursday night — the Clippers scored a trio of second-period markers to earn a 4-2 victory over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs in front of 1,196 fans at the Frank Crane Arena.
The win gives the Clippers a 2-1 series lead as the teams prepare for Game 4 Saturday in Nanaimo. It’s the second such advantage for the sixth-seeded squad in this Coastal semi-final after taking the series opener in Alberni Valley.
The Bulldogs, who were pushing to reclaim home-ice advantage, scored three minutes into the hockey game to take the early lead. Matt Hatch ignited his club with the early icebreaker, taking a pass from Tye Lewis and coverting past Loic Boivin to give Alberni the 1-0 advantage. But with six minutes remaining in the first, the resilient Nanaimo squad pulled even with the Coast's top team courtesy of Carson Schell. The late-period momentum from Schell’s marker crossed over into the middle frame, as Nanaimo scored at the 2:48 mark of the second to leap in front 2-1 for the first time on the night. Joe Perry, who assisted on the first tally, beat the Bulldogs’ Frank Slubowski, while Schell provided the helper on Nanaimo’s go-ahead goal.
Cody Bremner added to the lead a minute later off a feed from Teal Burns, while Brayden Jaw rounded out the second-period scoring with a power-player goal before the 10-minute mark to give the Clippers a comfortable 4-1 advantage into the final frame. The Bulldogs responded in the third with a man-advantage marker of their own, as Hatch tallied his second of the night to close the gap to two goals. Lewis added an assist to record a two-point night.
Clippers' netminder Loic Boivin stopped 25 shots to preserve the Game 3 victory for Nanaimo, who have a chance to extend its series lead at home Saturday night. Slubowski allowed four goals on 21 shots for Alberni Valley, who need a victory in a crucial Game 4 to even the semi-final affair.
