A hat trick from captain Jamie Collins wasn’t enough for the Clippers Friday in a 5-4 loss to the Bulldogs.
Brady Lynn opened the scoring for Nanaimo but Paul Selleck replied to even the game heading into the intermission.
In the first minute of the second Connor Welsh scored a power play goal to put the Bulldogs in front.
Later on another Alberni man advantage Keaton Mastrodonato converted a rebound.
Collins brought the game to 3-2 when he stole the puck and roofed a backhand over John Hawthorne.
Mastrodonato added a deflection goal in the third period to restore a two goal lead, and once again it was Collins who narrowed the gap to 4-3.
Cayden Kraus scored a back breaking goal when he beat Noah Featherstonhaugh Gowe after a long shift of pressure in the Nanaimo zone.
That would prove to be the game winner despite Collins finishing off his hat trick in the final minute.
The shots finished up 49-47 for the Bulldogs and special teams were a big story in the game with Alberni going 2/6 on the power and Nanaimo finishing 0/7.
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Friday’s Three Stars
1) Keaton Mastrodonato 2g
2) Jamie Collins 3g
3) Michael Sacco 1a
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The Clippers host the Vernon Vipers Saturday at 6 p.m. and they won’t have long to wait for a rematch with the Bulldogs, Alberni visits Frank Crane Arena October 6.
