The Clippers dropped a 6-4 result on home ice to the Coquitlam Express on Saturday night. (Gary Dorland)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

one up, one down

Clippers drop first home game of 2025

Jan 4, 2025 | 10:22 PM

NANAIMO — A goal inside the opening two minutes helped pace the visiting Coquitlam Express to a win at Frank Crane Arena.

On the heels of a 2025-opening 5-1 win in Port Alberni a night prior, the Clippers hosted Coquitlam on Saturday, Jan. 4 and looked to continue their perfect start in the new year.

However a goal at 1:21 of the first period gave Coquitlam a 1-0 lead and set off a back and forth affair with the Clippers narrowly trailing throughout.

Coquitlam made it 2-0 midway through the period via a shorthanded goal, the second conceded in back to back games, before Nanaimo used their lethal powerplay to get on the board.

Dylan Kinch notched his 16th goal of the season to make it 2-1.

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The Express restored their two goal advantage less than two minutes later to make it 3-1 and chase starting goaltender Chazz Nixon, before a late period powerplay goal from Cole Lonsdale made it 3-2 at the first intermission.

Shots favoured Nanaimo 14-10.

The trading of goals continued in the second as the Express opened scoring at 8;19, before Makaio van Tassel’s fourth of the season came with just over six minutes remaining and again drew the Clippers within a goal.

Coquitlam extended their advantage inside the final minute of the period for a 5-3 lead after 40 minutes.

Luke Lavery again got Nanaimo within a goal early in the third period, his 11th of the season was the third goal of the night on the Clipper powerplay to make it 5-4.

It was his fourth point of the night after assisting on three goals earlier.

The Express added an empty net goal late for a 6-4 win.

Otto Nuto took the loss in net, stopping 29 of 31 Coquitlam shots in 46:29 minutes of ice time.

The Clippers host Powell River Friday, Jan. 10 at Frank Crane Arena, before travelling to Duncan on Saturday night to take on Cowichan.

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