Less than 24 hours after only one goal was scored in a game between Powell River Kings and Nanaimo Clippers, the two BC Hockey League teams combined to score nine goals in the final contest of 2019 at Hap Parker Arena on December 31.
Island Division-leading Nanaimo bounced back from being shut out the night before by scoring four first-period goals after Powell River forward Jacob Slipec opened the scoring 4:53 into the game. The visitors also outshot the hosts 14-8 in the opening frame.
Kings responded by outshooting the Clippers 16-7 and converting on two power play opportunities in the second period to cut the lead to one. Levi Glasman’s 13th goal of the season and Jacob Badal’s ninth were both set up by Dylan Finlay and Brett Roloson.
Nanaimo regained a two-goal lead just over two minutes before the second intermission.
Powell River continued to push in the final period, outshooting Nanaimo 12-5. Glasman’s second of the game, assisted by Ethan Schmunk with 2:03 remaining, brought the Kings within one goal again, but it was as close as the home team would get. Clippers hung on for a 5-4 win.
Attendance was 744.
Nanaimo leads the Island Division with 54 points, two ahead of second place Cowichan Valley. Alberni Valley is third with 42 points, followed by Powell River (40) and Victoria (30).
Kings begin 2020 with a pair of games in Port Alberni on Friday, January 3, and Saturday, January 4. The next home game is Friday, January 10, against Wenatchee
