Joel Plante scored his team-leading 11th goal of the season inside the first two minutes of the game, to help the Clippers to a 5-2 win over Vernon on Friday night. (Gary Dorland)

By Alex Rawnsley

big first

Fast start paces Clippers to comfortable win over Vernon

Nov 29, 2024 | 10:33 PM

NANAIMO — A trio of goals in the first period proved enough as the Clippers won their fifth consecutive game at Frank Crane Arena.

Hosting the Vernon Vipers on Friday, Nov. 29, Clipper fans barely waited two minutes to see their team score as Joel Plante notched his team-leading 11th goal of the season on the powerplay for a 1-0 lead.

Nanaimo kept up the pressure through much of the first period, extending their lead at 10:04 via Dylan Kinch’s individual effort past an outstretched Vipers defenceman for a 2-0 advantage.

Teams looked set to carry that scoreline into the first intermission, but Connor Haynes notched the eventual game winning goal at 19:30 of the first period, holding onto a puck while skating into the slot for his second goal of the season.

Clippers lead 3-0 after the first period, outshooting Vernon 15-10.

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The Vipers scored early in the second period, crashing the crease and pushing Clipper netminder Otto Nuto behind the goal line for a 3-1 score.

Vernon closed the gap within a goal 10 minutes later after a defensive miscue led to an odd-man rush and a goal to Vipers forward Lucas Brennan.

The Clippers restored a two goal lead late in the period with Makaio Van Tassel scoring his third goal of the season on a partial breakawy to make it 4-2 after 40 minutes.

Vernon had two full powerplays in the third and pushed to close the gap, but goaltender Nuto stood tall, making several key saves to preserve the lead.

The 5-2 marker came as a result of his counterpart for Vernon getting caught with the puck behind his own net, with Chase Hull wrapping around for his fifth goal of the season for a 5-2 lead.

Nuto stopped 35 Vernon shots for his second win of the year and third star honours.

The Clippers host Penticton on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.

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