Nanaimo beat Victoria 5-0 but lost to the Grizzlies 5-4 in OT in a home and home series. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Break Time

Clippers weekend wrap: Dec. 20-21

Dec 23, 2019 | 3:05 PM

NANAIMO — The Clippers went in to their 2019 Christmas break with a share of first place in the Island Division.

A home and home series with the Grizzlies wrapped up the unofficial first half of the BCHL schedule with the two teams splitting the games.

Nanaimo won 5-0 at home on Dec. 20 in a game that highlighted the Clippers strong defensive prowess.

It was the team’s eighth shutout which leads the league to this point.

Jordan Naylor made 26 saves for his fifth clean sheet of the year.

Shorthanded

Clippers fall short hosting Bulldogs

2h ago

off the schedule

BC Ferries preemptively cancels early Saturday sailings

9h ago

firm handshake

B.C. NDP government, Greens reach 'shared priorities' agreement

12h ago

Ethan Scardina, Kyler Kovich and Josh Bourne combined for six points as a line in a contest that featured five different goal scorers.

Nanaimo took a shutout streak of more than 120 minutes into their Dec. 21 game at the Q Centre.

An early seven minute man advantage was both a blessing and a curse as Steven Agriogianis notched a pair of power play goals but the Clippers also gave up a shorthanded tally to quell some of their momentum.

After giving up two early goals in the second period Nanaimo was chasing the game most of the night.

Kyler Kovich erased a 4-3 deficit late in regulation but Victoria got the win in overtime.

At 24-10-2-2 the Clippers have earned 52 points.

Even though they have the same point total and win total as Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo has done it in two fewer games.

The season series with the Grizzlies is now complete with the Clippers taking points in five of the nine meetings at 5-2-2.

Nanaimo will come back from their break to play in Powell River on Dec. 30 and 31.

CLIP NOTES:

Defenseman Devon Mussio played his 200th career BCHL game in Victoria on Dec. 21. He finished the contest with two assists.

Forward Josh Bourne has eight points in a three game point streak, Kyler Kovich has six points in a three game streak.

Goalie Jordan Naylor is first in the BCHL in save percentage (.946), tied for first in shutouts (5) and second in goals against average (1.64)

The Clippers have 20 games left on their schedule. Nanaimo plays Cowichan six times, Powell River five times, Alberni Valley three times and have nine other non divisional games.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77