The Clippers never trailed in a hard fought 4-3 win over the Powell River Kings. (Gary Dorland)
Well Earned

Clippers outbattle Kings for 4-3 win

Jan 26, 2024 | 11:20 PM

NANAIMO — The Clippers were pushed to the brink by the Powell River Kings but eventually prevailed for a 4-3 road win.

Nanaimo got off to a strong start with two goals in the first seven and a half minutes of the game.

Luke Buss opened the scoring and in the process upped his goal scoring streak to five games.

Michael Murtagh had an assist on that tally, and finished with two on the night, which extended his point scoring streak to 12 games.

Then Isa Parekh scored his second goal of the season on a cross ice pass from newcomer Dylan Kinch.

Kinch was playing in his first game with Nanaimo after being acquired from Chilliwack earlier in the week in exchange for Willyam Gendron.

The Kings changed the game in the final minute of the first with goals 36 seconds apart by Anthony Yu and Anthony Lucarelli.

From there scoring was at a premium with both Owen Crudale and the Clippers Chazz Nixon putting forth strong efforts.

Gabriel Westling scored the only marker of the middle frame with a wrist shot from the slot but Powell River equalized in the first two minutes of the third period on a breakaway effort from Christian Maro.

Connor DeTurris played hero with a wrist shot goal midway through the third period to lift the Clippers to the win.

The Kings outshot Nanaimo 30-28 with the Clippers going 0-3 on the power play and 1/1 on the penalty kill.

Nanaimo brings a 4-1 head to head record against Powell River into a rematch Jan. 27 at 5 p.m. at the Hap Parker Arena.

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