#19 Connor DeTurris tries to deflect a shot on the net late in the third period of play.
By Malcom Cooke
In a dramatic turn of events, the Nanaimo Clippers fell to the Cowichan Capitals 5-4 after relinquishing a commanding 4-1 lead. The Clippers showcased strong performances with two goals from Anthony Biakabutuka, alongside contributions from Conner DeTurris and Alex Hebblethwaite. However, despite their early dominance, the team couldn’t maintain momentum, allowing the Capitals to storm back and secure a comeback victory on Friday night.
Cole Lonsdale picked the pocket of a Capitals defender before threading a pass to a streaking Conner DeTurris. DeTurris fanned on his shot attempt and the game remained 0-0. The Clippers were granted the first power play of the evening when Capitals forward Jordan Bax was sent off for holding. The Clippers peppered the Capitals net, but time expired on the power play without a goal. Clippers leading scorer Alex Hebblethwaite was hit hard and blindsided into the boards, giving the Clippers another powerplay chance. With the Clippers already being down multiple key players, losing Hebblethwaite for any extended period would be less than ideal. On the power play, the Clippers worked the puck around the offensive zone until Anthony Biakabutuka scored his first goal as a Clipper to put the home team up 1-0. The Clippers won in the shot column as well, outshooting the Capitals 14-10 in the first period.
In the early stages of the second period, Clipper defenceman Hudson Gill inadvertently put the puck in his own net, giving Cowichan an easy goal to tie the game at 1-1. Biakabutuka scored his second goal of the game with a laser shot from the point to retake the lead for the Clippers. Biakabutuka would get involved in a scrum on his next shift, resulting in coincidental penalties to both teams. Joel Plante sent a high saucer pass through the neutral zone onto the stick of Cole Lonsdale who was sprung for a two-on-one with Conner DeTurris. Lonsdale evaded the Cowichan defender and threaded a pass to DeTurris to redirect into the back of the net, giving the Clippers a 3-1 advantage. Alex Hebblethwaite beat out Cowichan goaltender Dylan Krick for a loose puck to score his eighth goal this season. The Clippers took their first penalty of the game in the latter half of the second but managed to kill it off. Shortly after the penalty to Cameron Johnsen expired, the Capitals scored to cut the Clippers lead to 4-2. Cowichan outshot Nanaimo in the second, 12-7, giving them a one-shot advantage through 40 minutes, 22-21.
The Capitals cut into the Clippers lead early in the third, making the score 4-3. The Clippers had 17 minutes remaining in the game to hold onto the lead. The Clippers' quest to hold onto the lead took a hit when Cole Lonsdale was sent to the penalty box for tripping. The Capitals took advantage and scored on the power play to tie the game at 4-4 with 9 minutes left to go in the third period. The Capitals completed the comeback late in the game with a lazy wrist shot that floated over the shoulder of Chazz Nixon. Cowichan outshot the Clippers 33-28.
Cowichan Valley’s Luca Primerano took home the first star of the game. Anthony Biakabutaka and Patrick Fortune earned the remaining two stars. FortisBC Energy Player of the Game was given to Joel Plante for his multiple saucer-pass breakouts.
The Clippers look to bounce back next week against the Coquitlam Express on Friday, Oct. 25th and the Chilliwack Chiefs on Saturday, Oct. 26th. Tickets can be purchased at the Frank Crane box office on game day or at tickets.nanaimoclippers.com.
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