The Clippers outshot Merritt 40-23 and played well for most of the night, but suffered a 3-2 loss to put an end to their five game winning streak. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Streak Over

Clippers on short end of 3-2 score in Merritt

Dec 17, 2023 | 12:07 AM

NANAIMO — It was a rare night this season where the Clippers deserved to take points from a game but didn’t.

Nanaimo lost 3-2 to the Merritt Centennials in a game where they controlled the shots on goal and the territorial play.

Merritt got out to a fast start with a breakaway goal for Michael Felsing and a goal from a scramble put in by Charles-Thomas Larochelle on a Centennials power play.

The Clippers trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes despite outshooting their opposition 14-9.

Nanaimo pressed even harder in the middle frame, outshooting Merritt 13-6 and getting a goal from Michael Murtagh.

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Felsing and Murtagh traded early third period power play goals but neither team could score in the final 18 minutes.

Overall Nanaimo put 40 shots on Andrew Ballantyne while Tyler Hodges faced 23 or the Clippers.

On special teams, the Clippers were 1/4 on the man advantage and 2/4 killing penalties.

The result ended Nanaimo’s five game winning streak as they end the pre-Christmas portion of the season with a 16-10-2 record.

The Clippers have sole possession of second place in the Coastal Division heading home for the holidays with 34 points.

They are six points behind first place Surrey and one point ahead of third place Victoria.

Nanaimo’s next game is Dec. 29 in Cowichan Valley.

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