The banged up and depleted Victoria Grizzlies 鈥� minus seven key players, including their five leading scorers 鈥� took their show on the road Friday and finally ran out of gas, but not before picking up a single point.
Marcus Williams scored once in regulation and then beat Kyle Dumba for the shootout winner to give the Clippers their first win over the Grizzlies in five tries this sa国际传媒 Hockey League season. The clippers won 4-3.
The Grizzlies got three-point nights from acting-captain Ryan Nolan and Jordan Guiney, and standout goaltending from Kyle Dumba, who made 47 saves as Nanaimo outshot Victoria 50-32.
After Nolan scored two quick goals midway through the first period, his fourth and fifth markers in the last three games, Mitchell brought the Clippers to life with a goal six minutes into the second period.
After Ethan Scardina and Guiney traded goals midway through the third period, Thomas Samuelson scored for the Clippers with 1:11 left in regulation and goaltender Jordan Naylor pulled for the extra attacker.
The Clippers improved to 15-18-0-0 on the season, while the Grizzlies remain atop the Island Division at 22-10-0-2.
For the third straight game, the Grizzlies played without their top five scorers 鈥� captain Alex Newhook, Riley Hughes, Alex Campbell, Carter Berger and Jeremie Bucheler 鈥� who are away at the World Junior A Challenge in Bonneyville, Alta, as well as injured No. 1 goalie Kurtis Chapman.
The Grizzlies head to Port Alberni today to wrap up the pre-Christmas break portion of their schedule. They鈥檒l face the Bulldogs at Weyerhaeuser Arena tonight before dispersing for Christmas. Victoria鈥檚 next game is Dec. 29 when the Clippers pay a visit to The Q Centre.
LOOSE PUCKS: sa国际传媒 West (2-1-1), with the five Grizzlies players, will face the U.S. (2-0-2) in one semifinal today at the World Junior A Challenge. Russia (4-0) will take on the Czech Republic (2-2) in the other semi.
