The Clippers couldn’t cash in their chances in Game 1, but the good news is that they get to go right back out on the ice tonight for Game 2.
The Nanaimo Clippers face the Powell River Kings on Saturday, March 3, at Frank Crane Arena in the second game of a best-of-seven BCHL playoff series.
The Kings defeated the Shipmen 4-1 on Friday at Frank Crane, leading 3-0 after two periods and extending the margin to 4-0 before the Clippers’ David Silye scored.
“I think we were still kind of getting used to playoff hockey being the first game,” Silye said. “Their goalie played well and we should have capitalized on some more chances, but we just couldn’t bury.”
Goalie Taz Burman made 29 saves in defeat.
The Kings got goals from Neal Samanski, Carter Turnbull, Josh Coblenz and Kevin Obssuth. Derek Krall, who is the Nanaimo Buccaneers’ No. 1 goalie, made 31 saves for the Kings.
Darren Naylor, Clippers coach, said he liked the way his team finished Friday’s game, but said players seemed to be just going through the motions over the first 40 minutes.
“It was our own mental errors…” he said. “Positionally, we were doing things where we weren’t thinking and they caught us and I think they got a couple lucky ones, too.”
He said his team was sick and coming off a long layoff, but “no excuses, we’ll be ready” for Game 2.
Silye also said the Clippers will be better in Saturday night’s game and said his team knows more about its opponent after Game 1.
“It’s going to be systems games and we’ve just got to play our systems better than theirs,” he said.
He likes the idea of going right back out there for Game 2 and said some of the fire and hate carries over from the previous night. That will help his team get the kind of start it needs, Silye said.
“I think it’s just a lot of positivity and making sure guys are ready to go and realizing how important these next few games are,” he said.
GAME ON … The Clippers and Kings play Game 2 on Saturday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
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