Clippers lose 1st game of Round 2 to Chilliwack Chiefs

#5 Grant Babock and #27 Lukas Klemm celebrate with #61 Jérémie Payant on his goal.

#16 Brody Waters digs for a loose puck.

By Malcom Cooke

The Nanaimo Clippers lost 2-1 to the Chilliwack Chiefs on Friday night in the opening game of round 2 of the BCHL playoffs. With the loss, the Clippers fell behind 1-0 in the second-round series. Jeremie Payant scored the lone Clipper goal. The absence of Jake Hewitt and Charles Tardif were felt as the Clippers struggled to generate offence. Aidan Campbell got the start in game 1 after Shane Shelest started the final 3 games of round 1. 

The first period started as a feeling-out process between the Clippers and Chiefs. Neither team managed to score in the opening frame. The Clippers sustained offensive pressure for parts of the first period but could not solve Lucas Szyszka. As the first period wound down, the Clippers managed to get a power play that would carry over to the start of the second period. Nanaimo outshot Chilliwack 11-6. 

Starting the second period with a man advantage, the Clippers could not muster any scoring. Shortly after Chilliwack’s penalty expired, it was their turn for a power play after Mike Murtagh got booked for tripping. It would be the shorthanded Clippers that struck first, however. Streaking into the offensive zone Jeremie Payant fired a rocket over the shoulder of Szyszka to take a 1-0 lead, his 2nd goal of the postseason. The Clippers earned their second power-play chance midway through the second period, but couldn’t add to their lead. Chiefs player Michael La Starza received a 2-minute penalty as well as a 10-minute misconduct in the latter half of the second. Payant nearly doubled the Clipper lead on the power play but got denied multiple times by Szyszka. Chilliwack tied the game at 1-1 late in the second period after a bad giveaway by a Clipper player gave Chilliwack a 4 on 2. Nanaimo kept applying pressure in the second, outshooting Chilliwack 16-6 for a two-period total of 27-13.

The third period had a similar feel to the first with each team playing defensively in order to keep the game tied. The Clippers would get an opportunity to retake the lead after Chilliwack took their 4th penalty of the game. Unfortunately, the Clippers continued to be stymied on the power play. With 5 minutes to go in the game, the Chiefs fired a shot on net that bounced off a Clipper defenceman before finding the back of the net, giving Chilliwack a 2-1 lead. The Chiefs would hold onto the lead as time expired, despite being outshot 34-21 in the game. 

Jeremie Payant, the lone Clipper goalscorer, earned third star of the night. Lucas Syzszka and Dylan Kinch of the Chiefs took home second and first star of the game. Luca Grabas earned FortisBC Energy Player of the Game in an expanded role. The Clippers aim to get a crucial bounce-back win on Saturday night before heading to Chilliwack. Tickets can be purchased at Nanaimoclippers.com or the Frank Crane box office on game day.

#61 Jérémie Payant celebrating his goal.
#35 Aidan Campbell makes a save during the action.
Coach Dave Liffiton gives instructions to the players during a media time-out.
#3 Nick Sajevic clears the puck from in front of the net.

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