By Dan Marshall

Clippers lose opportunity to gain ground in playoff race with 9-5 loss in Surrey

Jan 30, 2017 | 8:52 AM

SURREY — Defense for both teams went out the window in Nanaimo’s 9-5 loss to the Surrey Eagles on Sunday.

The Eagles scored on the first shift of the game and that set the tone for a rough outing for the Clippers.

Desi Burgart and Ashton Calder scored first period goals to get Surrey out to a 2-0 lead and then the offensive players took over from there.

Ben Solin scored two goals in the second period for the Clippers but Dario Piva along with Burgart and Calder staked the home team to a 5-2 lead after 40 minutes.

The second goals of the game for Burgart and Calder came in a 17 second span and put Nanaimo behind the eight ball.

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In the third period Sean Buchanan scored an early power play goal to close the gap to 5-3.

Then the teams went back and forth with Calder completing a hat trick, then Lucas Finner scored on a Clipper power play.

Cory Babichuk snapped a wrist shot behind Evan DeBrouwer, upping the score to 7-4 and then Ben Taylor inched Nanaimo closer when he beat Keelan Williams on a wraparound.

Surrey put the game away with two empty netters from Dario Piva and Paul McAvoy.

Nanaimo squandered a chance to gain ground in their Island Division playoff race in a game where they never really could find a way to get on track.

The Clippers are back at home on Friday when they host the Penticton Vees and then have a massive divisional game against Alberni Valley on Saturday.

With 10 games left in the season Nanaimo is three points behind the third place Cowichan Valley Capitals in the Island Divison, and four points up on the the fifth place Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

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Sunday’s Three Stars

1) Ashton Calder 3g

2) Cory Babichuk 1g 3a

3) Desi Burgart 2g

dan.marshall@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @danmarshall77