The Nanaimo Clippers are now in must-win mode for the rest of their playoff series.
The Clippers lost 3-2 to the Powell River Kings on Thursday at Frank Crane Arena and now trail the first-round BCHL series three games to two.
The game was tied 2-2 until, with one and a half minutes left in regulation, Kings forward Carter Turnbull scored a wraparound goal to finish off an individual rush up the ice.
“It’s two pretty evenly matched teams,” said Darren Naylor, Clippers coach. “Little mistakes are costing the team right now.”
Turnbull, who is from Nanaimo, said his team got better as the game went on and said “good teams find a way” to win.
Clippers goals came from David Melaragni and Tristan Crozier and Taz Burman made 30 saves as shots were 33-32 in favour of the visitors. Ben Berard and Kevin Obssuth scored the first two goals for the Kings and Matteo Paler-Chow was the winning goalie with 30 saves.
“This was probably the biggest game of the series,” Turnbull said. “We wanted to go back with a lead and now we have the opportunity to end a season and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”
He said his team will be ready to play an opponent that will be giving its all.
“We’re definitely going to need a full 60 from everybody,” Turnbull said. “We know it’s going to be tough and we’re ready for the challenge.”
Naylor said in Game 6, his team needs to score goals, as it hasn’t scored enough so far in the series.
“These two teams are pretty tight, so I’m sure it’s going to be another tight one,” he said. “We’re going to go and play as hard as we can. There’s definitely not any quit in these guys.”
GAME ON … The Clippers and Kings play Game 6 on Saturday, March 10, at 7 p.m. at Hap Parker Arena in Powell River. Game 7, if necessary, would be Sunday, March 11, at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.
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