The Nanaimo Buccaneers ran into some stormy seas as they began the next round of the playoffs.
The Bucs lost 6-1 to the Campbell River Storm in Game 1 of the North Division finals on Tuesday night up Island.
“We kind of came out slow and they came out guns a-blazing, as they should at home,” said Dan Lemmon, Buccaneers coach.
Billy Walters scored Nanaimo’s only goal in the first period on a tip, but other than that, the Bucs didn’t get very close to the crease.
“Throughout the game, they did a better job of getting guys to the net and getting pressure on the goalkeeper…” Lemmon said. “We just couldn’t get to the front of the net.”
He said his guys did play hard in Game 1, but needed to do a better job playing smart.
Alex Orth suffered the loss in goal for Nanaimo, making 27 saves as his team was outshot 33-23.
The Game 1 result is the first loss of the playoffs so far for the Buccaneers, who swept the Comox Valley Glacier Kings in Round 1.
“It’s the first type of adversity we’ve seen these playoffs, so we’ll get a good understanding of our pushback and our championship backbone in the next game,” Lemmon said.
GAME ON … The series between the Bucs and Storm features alternating home dates, meaning Game 2 is at the Nanaimo Ice Centre on Thursday (March 10). Faceoff is at 7:15 p.m.
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