Above Photo: Sophies Photographys
Victoria, BC ~ The Nanaimo Clippers narrowly held onto a lead in the third period to defeat the Victoria Grizzlies on Saturday night from the Q Centre in Colwood.
Nanaimo jumped ahead early in the game after a big rebound off the blocker of Grizzlies goaltender Kyle Kelsey, was put home by Carson Lesiuk (8th) to stake the visitors to a lead at 2:54.
Victoria would tie the game 10 minutes later at 13:33 when Julian Cull (9th) buried a rebound after a tip in front from Jacksenn Hungle was loose at the side of the goal. Nanaimo would, however, retake the lead a minute later when Elliot Perreault redirected a puck home for his seventh of the season. Patrick Fortune followed suit two and a half minutes later with his 10th on the powerplay giving Nanaimo a two goal cushion after twenty minutes.
The second period would see the Grizzlies pull within one at 9:07 when Alex Hebblethwaite jammed a puck home for his 15th of the year. That goal was his first since returning from a scary injury on January 4th.
Nanaimo would, however, take control of the game with two goals in quick succession off of Grizzlies mistakes. First it was Cole Lonsdale (26th) finishing off a 2 on 0 passing play with Dylan Kinch before Carson Lesiuk’s second of the game (9th) came two minutes later on a wrist shot to the top left corner. Those two goals came at both 14:00 and 16:39 giving Nanaimo a 5-2 lead after 40.
Victoria mounted an impressive comeback attempt in the third with first Dan D’Alessandro (4th) sifting a puck through traffic and in on the man advantage at 6:17. Seamus Latta would also strike for Victoria on the power play going through the Nanaimo defense and slotting a back hander home for his 11th of the year at 12:08 giving Victoria more than a chance.
The Grizzlies had more good fortune in the third period with man advantages when Luke Lavery was assessed a game misconduct and five minute major for and Illegal Check to the Head of Dan D’Alessandro giving them a long power play. What was not good fortune for them was D’Alessandro leaving the game and not returning, as well as the fact that they could not seem to get the power play on the right page and the game ended with them failing to muster a shot on goal and leaving them feeling like they had squandered a golden opportunity.
Carson Lesiuk took home first star of the game for Nanaimo while Garin Ludwig was the second star. Dan D’Alessandro was awarded third star of the game.
Victoria is back in action on Wednesday night from the Western Financial Place in Cranbook for a visit with the Bucks. They will also play on the road in Surrey and Langley on Friday and Saturday in that order.
