COLWOOD — The Clippers won their fourth place showdown with the Victoria Grizzlies.
After a 5-3 win at the Q Centre, Nanaimo has 55 points in the Coastal Division standings, two points more than fifth place Victoria,
The Clippers got off to a good start with an Isa Parekh goal a minute and a half into the game and a Michael Murtagh power play marker mid way through the first period.
Nanaimo also outshot the Grizzlies 21-12 in the opening 20 minutes.
Murtagh and Remi Gelinas put the Clippers up 4-0 in the middle frame but a power play marker by Malcolm Green cut the lead to 4-1 before the intermission.
Reegan Hiscock continued the rally just over a minute into the third and then Nanaimo got into some penalty problems.
Sam Boisvert was assessed a controversial goalie interference call and moments later a bench penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct led to a Grizzlies five on three power play,
Nathan King pulled the game to within one but the strong goaltending of Tyler Hodges kept Nanaimo in front until a Luke Buss empty netter capped the scoring at 5-3.
Victoria outshot the Clippers 46-43 while Nanaimo finished 1/2 on the man advantage and 2/4 killing penalties.
At the conclusion of play on March 9 the Clippers were not only two points ahead of the fifth place Grizzlies but just two points back of the third place Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
Nanaimo concludes a busy three game in three day weekend with a home game against the Surrey Eagles at 4 p.m. on March 10.
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