The Nanaimo Clippers’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Victoria Grizzlies appeared to be the result of a late-game lapse, but that isn’t exactly right.
The Clippers’ 4-0 lead after 40 minutes, said alternate captain Kyle Kramer, masked the fact that the Grizzlies were outplaying the visitors for long stretches.
Nanaimo’s play, he said, was a “time bomb” waiting to go off, and that’s what happened.
“We kind of unravelled a little bit.”
Kramer and Colton Cyr scored five minutes apart early in the first period and then Kramer added two more goals to complete the hat trick in the second period.
But the Grizzlies got a goal in the first minute of the third period, two more midway through the frame and then tallied the tying goal with 30 seconds left.
Victoria’s winning goal was scored by Mike Moran a minute and a half into overtime.
Shots in the game were 34-18 in favour of the Grizzlies, as Billy Faust suffered the loss in net.
Kramer said the team got away from doing some of the things that made them successful against the Grizzlies in two earlier games this season.
“We’ve got to put pucks to the net against them,” he said.
The teams play again Sunday (Oct. 16) at Frank Crane Arena.
“We’re really going to be going,” Kramer said. “We’ve got to prove to ourselves that we can play 60 minutes against them because we haven’t done that yet this year.”
GAME ON … The Clips and Grizz face off at 3 p.m. Tickets available at the door.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com