#7 Ethan Mistry scored the Clippers' first goal.
#35 Aidan Campbell controls the puck along the end boards.
By Malcom Cooke
The Nanaimo Clippers fell to the Powell River Kings 6-4 on Friday night. Quebec native Charles Tardif scored 2 of the Clipper goals. Ethan Mistry and Jake Hewitt added the other 2 goals for Nanaimo. The Clippers still retain a healthy first-place lead in the Coastal division heading into the final stretch of the 2022-23 season.
The Clippers got the first power play chance of the game midway through the first period. Despite multiple scoring opportunities, the Clippers did not manage to score with the extra space. Jake Hewitt made a move to score late in the first period but could not sneak the puck past Kings goalie Kyle Metson. The first period ended in a slough of penalties, coincidental roughing minors for each side and an additional double minor for high-sticking gave the Clippers a 4-minute power play to start the second period. No goals were scored in the first but the Clippers managed to outshoot the Kings 10-5.
The Clippers were unable to capitalize on the man advantage to open the second period. Nanaimo would get a third power play opportunity later in the period. Brown commit Ethan Mistry broke the 0-0 deadlock, sending a rebound into the back of the Kings' net to take a 1-0 lead in a defensive matchup to that point. The Clipper lead was short-lived as just 3 minutes later the Kings retaliated with a bad bounce goal that found its way past Aidan Campbell. The Kings would add another goal moments after their first, bringing the score to 2-1 for Powell River. Before the second period ended Powell River added a third goal to take a 3-1 lead over the Clippers. More penalties were awarded for after-the-whistle activities, including a 10-minute misconduct penalty assessed to Clipper forward Luca Grabas. A late hit on Ethan Mistry meant the Clippers would also start the third period on the power play. The Clippers were also outshot 13-10 through the second period.
It took less than a minute for the Clippers to score on the power play. Army commit Jake Hewitt redirected a beautiful pass from Kai Daniells to bring Nanaimo within a single goal. Jake Hewitt would make his presence felt once again, drawing a high-sticking penalty call for Powell River. The Clippers managed to tie the game at 3-3 with the man advantage. Charles Tardif notched the tying goal. Kings goalie Kyle Metson somehow managed to turn aside a myriad of Clippers scoring chances to keep the game tied as the third period wound down. Tardif potted his second goal of the game to give the Clippers a 4-3 lead late in the third. The Kings would tie the game at 4-4 less than a minute later. Powell River regained the lead with just two minutes remaining in the game and would add an empty netter to complete their 6-4 win.
Jake Hewitt earned FortisBC Energy Player of the Game in a 2-point effort. The three stars were awarded to Parker Lalonde, Charles Tardif and Anthony Yu, respectively. The Clippers look to bounce back Saturday night in Victoria before returning home for a Sunday afternoon matinee against the Chilliwack Chiefs. Sunday’s game is the final home game of the season. Tickets can be purchased at Nanaimoclippers.com or the Frank Crane box office on game day.
