CLIPPERS BEAT GRIZZLIES 2-1 IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE

COLWOOD — It took 58 games, and eight head to head meetings but finally the Clippers beat the Victoria Grizzlies.
Nanaimo won 2-1 at the Q Centre on Saturday night, taking three of a possible four points in a weekend series that will also serve as a playoff preview.
Grizzlies leading scorer Cole Pickup opened the scoring for Victoria when he beat Evan DeBrouwer from in close in the first period.
The Clippers countered in the second period on a rebound goal from Ben Taylor that was credited at the time to Ben Solin.
Solin did score in the game though. The Clippers points leader notched his 15th goal of the season behind Grizzlies AP Shawn Parkinson in the third period to give Nanaimo the victory.
The final shots finished 32-20 for Victoria, and the teams both had five power plays on the night.
Saturday’s game will serve as a playoff preview with the first game of a best of seven series set for the Q Centre on March 3rd.
The rest of the playoff schedule is still be be determined.
The Clippers finished the 2016-17 season in fourth place in the Island Division with a record of 23-18-1-6, and their season series with the Grizzlies ended 1-6-0-1.
Nanaimo’s best month of the season was October when the team went on a run of 7-3-0-2 but February was the Clippers second best month with a 5-3-0-1 record.
*** Photo Credit – Gary Dorland