The Nanaimo Clippers had everybody going, and that was enough to win.
The Clips swept a home-and-home series against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on the weekend, including a 3-0 shutout on Friday at Frank Crane Arena.
“We played it smart defensively. I think we respected the game plan set by [coach Mike Vandekamp] and we executed,” said Guillaume Decelles, Clippers goalie. “If you put it all together, it makes a really good game by the boys.”
The scoreless first period was filled with penalties, one of those periods that a fan might call disjointed. But the Clippers didn’t see it that way.
“Some of the guys that don’t see a lot of [power play] time are our penalty-killing players, so everybody’s involved…” Vandekamp said. “I think that helps our team stay in games like that. Even though there was a lot of penalties being called, we were able to stay focused.”
The coach said the Clippers’ penalty killing has improved with players’ understanding of the game and team systems.
“A lot of people, they always think a penalty killer’s that hard-working, guts-and-determination guy, and yeah, that’s a part of it, but it’s also about being smart and we’re getting smarter on the kill.”
The Bulldogs ended up 0-for-6 with the man advantage.
Nanaimo’s scoring on Friday came in bunches, with all three goals coming in a four-and-a-half-minute span early in the second period. Cole Maier and Nicolas Carrier scored 20 seconds apart – each assisting on the others’ goal – and then Anthony Rinaldi extended the margin on the power play.
The Bulldogs directed 14 shots at Decelles in the third period, but he was able to hold them off for his second shutout of the season.
“I was seeing the puck,” he said. “I got a lucky break when they hit the post on the power play, but I was feeling really good.”
In the next night’s rematch, the Clips trailed 2-1 midway through the game but scored four times in the second half of the second period. Jake Jackson had two goals and an assist, Brendan Taylor had a goal and two assists and Devin Brosseau and Sheldon Rempal also scored. Decelles made 47 saves in the win.
Special teams were a factor again Saturday as the Clips were 3-for-9 with the man advantage while the Bulldogs were 1-for-8.
GAME ON … Next action for the Clippers is Wednesday (Feb. 4), when they play the Victoria Grizzlies at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena. The Clips then visit the Bulldogs Friday at Alberni before returning home to face the Langley Rivermen on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Frank Crane Arena.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com
