By Malcom Cooke
The Nanaimo Clippers defeated the Coquitlam Express 5-3 in a Sunday afternoon matinee. With the win, the Clippers improve to 22-4-0 on the season and maintain a 7-point lead over the Surrey Eagles for the Coastal division lead. Three power-play goals in the first and second periods gave the Clippers a decisive three-goal lead 25 minutes into the game. Goals came from Brody Waters, Michael Craig, Jeremie Payant, Willyam Gendron, and Kai Daniiels. Aidan Campbell stopped 33 of 36 shots faced to earn the win.
The first period kicked off with Skylar Cameron receiving a double minor penalty for high-sticking, putting the Clippers on the penalty kill for four minutes. The Nanaimo penalty-kill unit managed to keep the game scoreless for the duration of the penalty. The Express managed to fire 11 shots before Nanaimo could get one, with the Clippers going ten minutes before registering their first shot. Coincidental minor penalties towards the end of the first, after a post-whistle dust-up, led to some 4-on-4 play, but neither side took advantage of the extra space. The Clippers get a power-play opportunity late in the first, scoring 20 seconds into it after Waters tipped a point shot from Ethan Mistry for his 15th goal of the season. The Clippers got their turn for a double minor power-play after a high stick from a Coquitlam player drew blood. The Clippers were outshot by Coquitlam 14-5 but led 1-0 and started the second period with a power play.
The Clippers took advantage of the four-minute man advantage when defenceman Micheal Craig crashed the net and angled home a pass from Brody Waters for a 2-0 lead. Another power-play opportunity after a Coquitlam charging penalty gave the second-best power-play unit in the BCHL another chance. Payant fired a short-side shot for Nanaimo's third power-play goal of the afternoon. The Clippers took a holding penalty and were on the receiving end of a power-play goal this time, with the Express cutting the lead to 3-1. Clippers take a second penalty of the second period and allow Coquitlam to score making it 3-2. All five goals to that point had been scored on a power-play. With under five minutes to play in the second period, Quebec native Willyam Gendron shot a squeaker through the pad of Coquitlam goalie, Adam Manji for a 4-2 lead and the first even-strength goal of the game. Aidan Campbell denied a Coquitlam scoring chance with a spread eagle save just before the second period ended.
The third period saw Coquitlam play with more urgency, once again holding the Clippers to a single-digit shot total. Coquitlam cut the lead to 4-3 in the third and spent most of the third with the puck in the Clippers' zone. The Nanaimo defence survived multiple Express onslaughts and kept the one-goal lead until Army commit Jake Hewitt tipped the puck past a defender on a 1on1 and Kai Daniells cleaned up the rebound for a 5-3 lead.
Jérémie Payant, Brody Waters, and Michael Craig earned the three stars of the game respectively. Willyam Gendron took home FortisBC Energy Player of the Game.
The Clippers are back at the Frank Crane Arena on Friday, December 16th to face the Prince George Spruce Kings. Tickets can be purchased at Nanaimoclippers.com or the Frank Crane box office on game day.
