One thing is for certain after the Nanaimo Clippers defeated the Victoria Grizzlies 3-0 in their regular-season finale on Friday night at Frank Crane Arena.
The Clippers (33-17-3-1) and Grizzlies (29-25) will not be meeting in the first round of the sa国际传媒 Hockey League playoffs.
The Grizzlies’ first round opponent is now down to two possibilities and whether Victoria, who are locked into fifth-place in the Coastal Conference, opens the post-season against the Chilliwack Chiefs (32-17-2-2) or the Langley Rivermen (33-18-1-2) will be decided tonight. If Chilliwack defeats the red-hot Coquitlam Express, the Grizzlies will open the playoffs at the Langley Events Centre against the Rivermen. If the Chiefs lose to the Express, who have won six straight games, then the Grizzlies will open the playoffs next weekend at the Chilliwack Coliseum.
The Clippers used Friday night’s win to lock down second place in the Coastal Conference, giving them a first-round matchup with the Express (22-25-1-5). The Alberni Valley Bulldogs won the Coastal Conference regular season title and will open the playoffs at home against the eighth-place Cowichan Valley Capitals.
On Friday night, the Grizzlies were without seven regulars as a result of injuries, suspensions and choosing to rest a veteran. Kalen Szeto, Isack Bandu, Clark Hiebert, Tim Kim and Connor Eddy were out with injuries, while Noah Fladager was serving a suspension and captain Ellis Rickwood was rested by Grizzlies head coach Craig Didmon.
Nanaimo shelled Grizzlies rookie netminder Kyle Kelsey early and opened the scoring late in the first period when Kai Daniells banged home a loose puck with three minutes left in the opening frame. Michael Craig scored a second-period power-play marker and Daniells added an empty-net goal with 10 seconds remaining to round out the scoring.
Kelsey finished with 31 saves, while Cooper Black picked up the shutout with 23 saves.
The Grizzlies were 0-3 on the power play, while the Clippers were 1-5.
LOOSE PUCKS: Grizzlies star rookie Matthew Wood has all but won the BCHL scoring race. Despsite being held off the scoresheet Friday, Wood finishes with 45 goals and 85 points in 46 games. The Nanaimo product finishes five points clear of teammate Rickwood, who is second in the scoring race, and seven points ahead of Salmon Arm’s Simon Tassy. The 20-year-old Tassy has one game remaining as the Silverbacks host the Trail Smoke Eaters tonight.
