Cooper Black stole the show with a 51 save effort in the Clippers 5-3 win in Langley. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Back in Black

Black’s 51 saves lead Clippers to 5-3 win in Langley

Feb 25, 2022 | 10:29 PM

LANGLEY — Cooper Black made 51 saves and was first star in his first game since Jan. 19.

Nanaimo won 5-3 despite being outshot 54-26.

Black came back from a lower body injury and faced 13 shots in the first period, then 21 in the second and another 20 before the end of regulation time.

Langley took an early lead two minutes into the game but then Nanaimo forged ahead 3-1 with goals from some unexpected sources.

Ben Kotylak scored his second of the season to bring the game to 1-1 after 20 minutes.

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In the middle frame Jack O’Brien scored his first of the year on the power play and Luca Grabas notched his fifth while Nanaimo was shorthanded.

Austin Spiradakis tallied on a deflection to up the lead to 4-1 early in the third before former Clipper Max Dukovac counted two straight to keep the game close down the stretch.

An errant Rivermen pass led to an empty net goal credited to Jake Hewitt to salt away the Nanaimo victory.

The Clippers were 1/1 on the man advantage and killed off all four four power plays against.

Nanaimo is now 1-2 in the season series with first place Langley with another matchup slated for Mar. 11 at Frank Crane Arena.

The Clippers played without two thirds of their top line with Sean Donaldson and Tristan Fraser sitting out. They were also without Charles Tardif, Alek Sukunda and Michael Craig.

Nanaimo visits Chilliwack at 7 p.m. on Feb. 26.

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