Clippers get first win over Grizzlies 4-3 in a shootout

Dec 14, 2018 | 9:18 PM

NANAIMO – The Clippers won 4-3 in a shootout against Victoria on Friday.

It was their first victory over the Grizzlies this season and extended Nanaimo’s winning streak to three games.

In the first period the teams combined for 30 shots but the Grizzlies got the only two goals, both off the stick of Ryan Nolan.

He scored twice in a span of 37 seconds.

Marcus Mitchell had the only goal of the second period to cut the lead to 2-1.

For Mitchell it was his third straight game with a goal.

In the third period Ethan Scardina scored on a rebound to tie it, but the Grizzlies Jordan Guiney put the visitors back in front on one of only three Victoria shots in the period.

Nanaimo pulled the goalie and Thomas Samuelsen tipped a puck behind goalie Kyle Dumba with just over a minute to go.

Both Dumba and the Clippers Jordan Naylor were sharp in overtime setting up Nanaimo’s third shootout game of the season.

Mackenzie Merriman and Tyler Williams were the only scorers in the shootout to give the home side a 4-3 win in their final home game of 2018.

Merriman’s shootout goal was his team leading fifth game winning goal of the season.

The shots finished 50-32 in Nanaimo’s favour with the Clippers going 3/3 killing penalties, including a major assessed to Hunor Torzsok late in the second period.

Nanaimo didn’t have a power play in the game.

Friday’s Three Stars were Mackenzie Merriman (shootout winner), Ryan Nolan (2g 1a), and Ethan Scardina (1g 1a).

Nanaimo will wrap up the pre-Christmas schedule in Alberni Valley on Sunday at 2 p.m.

They’ll face Victoria again on the road the first game after Christmas on Saturday December 29.

 

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77