By Malcom Cooke
The Clippers had a bounce-back win, 3-2 over the visiting Vernon Vipers on Saturday. The victory is the 31st of the season and puts the Clippers up 8 points on the second-place Surrey Eagles. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead, the Vipers fought back to tie the game before Ethan Mistry scored the winner in overtime. Kai Daniells and Willyam Gendron scored the first two Clipper goals. Aidan Campbell stopped 30 of 32 shots en route to his 24th win of the season.
The Clippers open the scoring 30 seconds in after Kai Daniells sends home a rebound to take an early 1-0 lead. Keeping the momentum going, the Clippers went on the power play 20 seconds later but did not add to their lead. Minutes later Nanaimo took a penalty of their own, granting a man advantage to Vernon that was killed offhandedly. Another penalty to the Clippers saw Ontario-born goaltender Aidan Campbell make multiple highlight reel saves, keeping the score 1-0. Late in the first, a scramble in front of the Vernon net came centimetres away from becoming another Clippers' goal. Viper goalie Roan Clarke managed to cover up before Jake Hewitt could finish the play. Despite being outshot 19-9 by Vernon, Nanaimo headed into the first intermission with a one-goal lead.
For the second period in a row, the Clippers scored early, taking a 2-0 lead. Willyam Gendron rifled a one-timer on a pass from fellow Quebec native Jérémie Payant. Clipper defenceman Grant Babcock took his second penalty of the game, placing the home team on the penalty kill for the third time. Vernon took a penalty of their own to negate their power play. With extra ice during the 4 on 4, the Vipers cut the lead to 2-1. From there, the game became a track meet with both teams trading multiple breakaways that were all turned aside. A post-whistle scrum with 40 seconds to play gave the Clippers their fourth power-play of the evening. They did not score before the horn sounded to end the second but started the third period with one minute and twenty seconds left on the man advantage.
The Clippers were unable to muster a goal on the early power play. A penalty to Captain Micheal Craig allowed the Vipers to tie the game at 2-2 less than two minutes into the third period. Nanaimo would have another power play chance to make an attempt at regaining the lead after former Clipper Walker Ericksen was dinged for a slashing call. A series of penalties after the midway point in the third led to more 4 on 4 action. Ethan Mistry got hauled down attacking the net with less than two minutes to play, meaning the Clippers had a chance to seal the game late. 60 minutes solved nothing as the game headed into an overtime period.
The first two minutes of overtime were played 4 on 4 as opposed to the regular 3 on 3 format. Once the original penalties expired the Vipers took a high-sticking penalty giving Nanaimo a chance to win the game. Kai Daniells fed the puck to Micheal Craig and he dished it over to Ethan Mistry who fired a one-timer top shelf to seal the 3-2 win.
Willyam Gendron earned the third star of the night. Viper forward Connor Elliot took home second star and game-winning goal scorer Ethan Mistry finished with first star honours. FortisBC Energy Player of the Game went to local talent Brett Merner for his efforts in blocking shots.
The Clippers play again on Monday in a rematch with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs. The next game at the Frank Crane Arena is on Wednesday, March 1st against Island rival the Victoria Grizzlies. Tickets can be purchased at Nanaimoclippers.com or the Frank Crane box office on game day.
