By Dan Marshall

Clippers suffer 5-4 loss and several injuries in Powell River

Jan 29, 2019 | 10:47 PM

POWELL RIVER – The Clippers lost a back and forth battle with the Powell River Kings on Tuesday 5-4.

Nanaimo never led but battled back from deficits of 2-0, 3-2, and 4-3, before surrendering the game winner near the middle of the third period.

The BCHL’s leading goal scorer Ryan Brushett got the Kings off to a good start putting a loose puck behind Jordan Naylor mid way through the first.

Josh Coblenz scored a shorthanded goal on a breakaway to extend the lead to 2-0.

Tyler Williams got the Clippers on the board with a power play marker to narrow the gap to 2-1 heading into the intermission break.

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After the Clippers killed off a five on three early in the second period Williams fed Sammy Steele who ripped in his third goal in two games.

A Levi Glasman goal on the man advantage gave the Kings another lead but Thomas Samuelsen got his stick on a pass from Jonathan Stein to even the game at 3-3 after 40 minutes.

Injuries took their toll in those first two periods as Nanaimo lost Aiden Hansen-Bukata, Gunnar Wegleitner, and Jonathan Stein.

The severity of those injuries isn’t known yet.

The Kings took another lead in the first minute of the third period when Ben Thomas got open in front of the net, but less than a minute later Mackenzie Merriman got the puck by Mitch Adamyk on a play that originated from a point shot by AP defenseman Sahvan Gill.

The game winner came seven minutes into the period on a breakaway for Christian Buono after he stole the puck at the Clipper blueline.

Powell River outshot Nanaimo 37-27 in the game with the Clippers finishing 1/3 on the power play and 4/5 killing penalties.

Tuesday’s Three Stars were Ryan Brushett (1g 2a), Tyler Williams (1g 1a), and Josh Coblenz (1g 2a).

Nanaimo and Powell River will play one more time when they go toe to toe at Frank Crane Arena on the final night of the season February 23.

Next up the Clippers play a home and home series against the Cowichan Valley Capital starting Friday in Nanaimo.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77