The Nanaimo Clippers couldn’t get a bounce and ended up with a 4-0 loss in their last road game of the season. The city’s B.C. Hockey League team was shut out by the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Tuesday at Port Alberni.

The Clips had the bulk of the offensive-zone pressure, tons of power-play opportunities and a 41-33 edge in shots on goal, but it wasn’t enough.

“It was frustrating,” said Luke Gordon, Clippers forward. “We outshot them a lot and we just couldn’t finish on our chances and they buried on theirs.”

Clippers coach Mike Vandekamp said Alberni’s goalie was the difference in the game. Matt LaRose, who is from Nanaimo, recorded the shutout while Chris Eiserman was tagged with the loss in the Clippers’ crease.

“Once again we got a lot of PPs and a lot of chances, we just weren’t burying them,” said Mason Blacklock, Clippers forward.

Both squads had a lot of young players in the lineup. The game got feisty in the third period and there were two fights, with Nanaimo’s Kyle Kramer scoring a bloody knockout over Alberni’s Turner Popoff.

Blacklock said even though the Clippers are out of contention, they’re playing to win.

“A loss still hurts the same as it would if we were still in the playoff race,” he said. “It’s not a good feeling.”

GAME ON … The Clippers host the Coquitlam Express tonight (March 7) at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena. They then host the Powell River Kings on Friday (March 9) at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena, then play a rematch against the Kings Sunday at 3 p.m., also at Frank Crane.

sports@nanaimobulletin.com