The Nanaimo Clippers dropped a 6-3 decision to the Coquitlam Express on Wednesday night.
It was a strong start for Nanaimo with Brenden Forbes jamming in a loose puck at 1:40 and Kyle Kramer blazing a shot past Cole Huggins at 11:43.
That gave the Clippers a 2-0 lead after one.
In the second period Coquitlam scored three goals on Billy Faust in a span of two minutes and 35 seconds to take a 3-2 lead, with goals by Malcolm McKinney, Mitch Nardi and Taylor Bourne.
Dan Correale evened the score at three with a solo dash off the right wing with just under a minute left in the period.
Coquitlam scored three goals in the third to secure the victory.
First Alex Petan at 2:45, then Clinton Atkinson at 11:15 and finally Affiliate Player Eric Margo into an empty net with 41 seconds remaining.
The Express outshot the Clippers 36-32 in the game and both teams went 0/2 on the power play.
Wednesday's Three Stars were 1) Alex Petan 2) Mitch Nardi 3) Clinton Atkinson
With the loss the Clippers fall 11 points behind the Express for the final playoff spot with 10 games remaining.
The Express have a 5-0 record in the season series with two critical head to head games left in early March.
Nanaimo continues on the road this week with games in Vernon Thursday and Prince George Saturday.
