By Dan Marshall

Clippers top line leads the way in 5-4 win over Capitals

Feb 8, 2017 | 8:25 AM

DUNCAN – The Clippers have won two games in a row and five of their last eight after posting a 5-4 win over Cowichan Valley on Tuesday.

Both teams earned leads in the game and four of Nanaimo’s five goals were scored by their hottest line of Ben Solin, Matt Creamer, and Lucas Finner.

The Clippers got out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Solin and a short handed tally by David Silye.

Solin’s goal was actually credited to Ben Taylor, but a scoring change will certainly come.

Cowichan Valley narrowed the gap with a Justin Perron goal just after a Nanaimo penalty had expired and the first period ended with the road team up 2-1.

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In the second period the Caps scored two goals in 55 seconds from Mitchell Skapski and John Sladic to take their only lead of the night.

But the Clippers fought back with power play goals by Finner and Creamer to again lead at the intermission break.

Goalie Evan DeBrouwer became a focal point in the third period.

The Clippers netminder was called for delay of game for knocking the net off, and then 14 seconds later the game was stopped while the officials checked his mask.

It was missing the CSA approval sticker so he had to change helmets.

Initially two minutes was put on the penalty clock to DeBrouwer but that was taken down and no penalty time was assessed.

Nanaimo killed the initial call and shortly after Finner netted his second goal of the game sneaking a puck over Lane Michasiw.

Perron connected for his second of the night to cut the deficit but the Clippers got the win to improved their record against the Capitals to 4-2-0-1.

The shots on goal finished 39-32 for the Clippers and they clicked twice on four power play’s, while killing all five Cowichan man advantages.  

With Alberni Valley losing 9-0 in Powell River, Nanaimo ended the night one behind the Capitals for third place in the Island Division and five points ahead of the Bulldogs for the final divisional playoff spot.

The Clippers are now a combined 8-3-0-3 against Cowichan and Alberni this season with their next two games against those clubs.

Nanaimo hosts the Bulldogs Friday and the Capitals next Wednesday.

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Tuesday’s Three Stars 

1) Matt Creamer 1g 1a

2) Justin Perron 2g

3) Lucas Finner 2g 1a