The Nanaimo Clippers can cross one of their goals for this season off their list.
The Clippers qualified for a B.C. Hockey League playoff berth this week as they won a home game and then lost a road game.
Nanaimo doubled up the Penticton Vees by a 4-2 score on Sunday afternoon at Frank Crane Arena, then lost 5-4 on the road against the Powell River Kings on Tuesday night.
The results mean that the third-place Clippers (23-25) have created enough breathing room in the Island Division to punch their ticket to the post-season, which begins at the end of February.
Sunday’s win against the Vees allowed the Clippers to end that team’s winning streak just a week after Penticton had ended a Nanaimo winning streak.
The Clippers opened scoring in their home rink in the final minutes of the first period as Jonathan Stein skated down the right wing into the Vees zone and fired a shot over Derek Krall’s glove. In the second period, Sammy Steele scored against his former team. Matthew Mosher knocked one out of the air for Nanaimo’s third goal and Steele converted a cross-crease pass early in the third to round out the team’s scoring.
Jordan Naylor made 25 saves and Tyler Williams finished with three assists.
Against the Kings, Williams, Steele, Thomas Samuelsen and MacKenzie Merriman scored and Naylor made 25 saves.
GAME ON … The Clippers play a home-and-home against the Cowichan Valley Capitals on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 1-2. Friday’s game is a 7 p.m. start at Frank Crane Arena.
-files from Penticton Western News/Black Press
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