The Clippers took three of four points in their games against Victoria and Vernon. Nanaimo lost 3-2 in OT versus the Grizzlies and Zach Bennett's first BCHL shutout led the team to a 5-0 win against the Vipers. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

First Place Tie

Clippers Weekend Wrap Oct. 25 – 27

Oct 28, 2019 | 4:06 PM

NANAIMO — The Clippers took three out of a possible four points last week and grabbed a share of first place in the Island Division.

On Oct. 25 Nanaimo fell 3-2 in overtime to the Victoria Grizzlies.

After a slow start the Clippers got second period goals from Sean Donaldson and Liam Ryan to grab a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes.

But a third period too many men on the ice call led to a Grizzlies power play goal that sent the game to overtime.

A late winner by Eddie Yan gave Victoria the extra point.

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The game against Vernon on Oct. 27 was a different story, with the Clippers in the drivers seat for nearly all 60 minutes.

Zach Bennett recorded a 24 save shutout and every line was involved in the scoring in a 5-0 win.

The victory ended the Vipers seven game winning streak.

Clippers Coach Darren Naylor challenged his players to rise to the occasion after the loss to Victoria and he liked the response against Vernon.

“We didn’t like the way we played on Friday but I really like the way we bounced back. I thought we were really dialed in. I thought that maybe outside the first two or three minutes we were really good.”

Nanaimo’s record of 11-5-1-1 coming out of the weekend gave the team 24 points, the same point total as their division rivals from Cowichan Valley.

“We didn’t like the way we played on Friday but I really like the way we bounced back today. I thought we were really dialed in. I thought that maybe outside the first two or three minutes we were really good.”

CLIP NOTES:

Jordan Naylor is second in BCHL goals against average at 1.60 and first in save percentage at .949. Zach Bennett is fourth in goals against average at 1.89 and second in save percentage at .944.

The Oct. 25 game against Victoria started a six game home stand for Nanaimo.

Nanaimo has an 8-2-1 record in the month of October.

The Clippers traded defenceman Colton Kitchen to Penticton in a future considerations deal on Oct. 23. Kitchen appeared in just one game for Nanaimo.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77