A power play goal with 1.8 seconds left was the difference in a 4-3 Clippers loss in Coquitlam. The game was a battle of division leaders. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Last Second Heartbreak

Last second goal leads Express over Clippers 4-3

Dec 1, 2019 | 7:44 PM

COQUITLAM – It felt like robbery to the Nanaimo Clippers in a 4-3 loss to the Express to wrap up the team’s three game road trip.

Nanaimo led 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2, before falling 4-3 with the winning goal going in with 1.8 seconds left on the clock.

The Clippers and Express battled the way you’d expect from division leaders, and it looked like the game was headed to overtime until a late tripping call against Jack O’Brien.

Coquitlam scored on that controversial call to take both points and up their league leading record to 26-5.

Nanaimo had goals from Travis Walton, Steven Agriogianis, and Aiden Hansen-Bukata.

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Scott Mahovlich had two assists in his first game back in the Clippers line up and helped fill in the holes left by Ethan Scardina, Kyler Kovich, and Trevor LeDonne.

Those three players were away at the Team Canada West selection camp for the World Junior A Challenge.

The final shots finished 29-27 for Coquitlam with Nanaimo going 0/1 on the power play and 1/2 killing penalties.

The Clippers took four of a possible six points on their weekend trip and took their record to 8-3 in games off of Vancouver Island.

After the weekend Nanaimo has a three point lead over Cowichan Valley for first place in the Island Division.

They next play Salmon Arm and Surrey at home Dec. 6 and 7.

The game on Dec. 7 is the annual Teddy Bear Toss.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77