NANAIMO — The Clippers went up 3-0 on their opponents for a second consecutive night and went on to beat the Coquitlam Express 5-3.
Caden Okovita put Nanaimo up 1-0 and then Elliot Perreault increased the lead with back to back deflection goals.
A power play marker from Carson McGinley and a last minute goal by Coquitlam’s Nate Creme cut the advantage to 3-2 after 20 minutes.
Tanner Bruender scored the only goal of the middle frame to give the Clippers a 4-2 lead.
That tally was scored shorthanded, giving Nanaimo their first shorthanded goal in nearly two seasons.
In the third period Jack Rimmer scored on an individual effort to restore the Clippers three goal advantage before Kim Elfving notched a late goal to move the score to 5-3.
Nanaimo product Matthew Hutchison got his first home start and made 29 saves for the victory.
Overall the Clippers outshot Coquitlam 37-32 while going 0/4 on the power play and 2/3 killing penalties.
The win gives Nanaimo a 3-0 lead in their season series with the Express and wraps up an impressive January in which the team went 5-1-1.
February begins with a home game against Prince George on the sixth and a road tilt in Powell River on Feb. 7.
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