Nanaimo built up a 2-0 first period lead and Tyler Hodges stopped 26 of 27 shots he faced to backstop the Clippers to a 2-1 victory over Salmon Arm. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Low scoring affair

Clippers take tight defensive battle 2-1 over the Silverbacks

Jan 5, 2024 | 10:04 PM

NANAIMO — The Clippers high powered offense took a back seat to a stalwart defensive effort in a 2-1 win over the Silverbacks.

After first period goals by Luke Buss and then Michael Murtagh on the power play the Clippers relied on strong defense and Tyler Hodges the rest of the night.

Hodges stopped 26 of 27 shots, beaten only by a Jacob Bonkowski tally on a deflection late in the middle period.

Nanaimo was outshot 27-23 with Hodges getting the win over Salmon Arm’s Eli Pulver.

The Clippers went 1/3 on the man advantage and 2/2 killing penalties.

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Leading scorer Murtagh is now on a nine game point streak with 14 points in that span.

He also ended night with 19 goals and 40 points, ranking him second in the BCHL in both categories.

Murtagh is now the league’s power play goal leader with nine.

The win was Nanaimo’s second in a row as they upped their record against the Interior Division to 4-2-1.

Nanaimo will finish the weekend with a home date against Coquitlam on Saturday Jan. 6.

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