The Nanaimo Clippers gave up goals in key moments and lost to the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
The visitors edged the Shipmen 4-3 in double overtime Saturday at Frank Crane Arena.
“It was a tough battle. We had our chances,” said Mike Vandekamp, Clippers coach.
Nanaimo led 2-0 after the first period, but gave up a goal in the last minute of the second period to go into intermission tied 2-2. The Clips got the lead back early in the third, but then the Silverbacks scored just a few seconds into a four-on-four situation midway through the frame.
Salmon Arm’s Elijiah Barriga scored the game-winning goal, as he got to the edge of the crease on an odd-man rush, got a pass and put it in the back of the net.
“When you’ve got a lead twice in a game, you’ve got to win the hockey game,” said Vandekamp, adding that his team made mental mistakes. Giving up the tying goal late in the second period and then the breakdown in four-on-four play in the third, he said, were mistakes at key moments.
“We just do it to ourselves with some structural breakdowns,” he said. “Because we fought hard in the game, for the most part. It was a good game, a close game; it could’ve went either way.”
Aidan Casey in the first period and Jamie Collins in the third period both scored their first goals with the Clippers and Jake Harris was Nanaimo’s other scorer. Austin Roden suffered the loss in goal as shots were 37-37.
For Salmon Arm, Josh Blanchard had a goal and two assists and Cameron Trott also tallied leading up to Mitch Skapski’s game-tying goal and Barriga’s game winner. Brandon Kegler made 34 saves for the win.
GAME ON … The Clippers play the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Tuesday (Oct. 25) at 7 p.m. at Duncan’s Island Savings Centre. The Clips then have two home games next weekend at Frank Crane Arena, hosting the West Kelowna Warriors on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Powell River Kings on Sunday at 2 p.m.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com