Kings were not at their best on Saturday night and the Clippers took advantage with a 7-1 win at Hap Parker Arena.
Actually neither team looked very good in the first ten minutes but each managed to score – Nanaimo at 2:51 and then Brandan Smith at 9:10.
Smith's goal was his first of the year and the big defenceman just kept pounding away at the puck in the crease until he got it by Dun.
Nanaimo made it 2-1 when they failed on a wraparound but after a couple of whacks the loose puck went to Brendan Taylor who slammed it into the empty net at 15:46.
Kings came out with more effort in the second and although they held the edge in play and shots, gave up a 2 on 1 and Kramer fired a puck under the bar and then Hadley got his on the powerplay when a shot from the point hit him and deflected into the net. Clippers 4 Kings 1.
Kramer got his second of the night at 0:36 of the third on the powerplay and Imoo was pulled for Braeden Ostepchuk.
Just four seconds and one shot later, Matt Grant broke in on Ostepchuk and beat him to make it 5-1 and Kramer completed his hat-trick at 12:08 to make the final 7-1.
Derek Dun was excellent in the Clipper net and was instrumental in keeping the Kings off the scoreboard until his teammates could put up a few goals.
Kings, on the other hand, will have to find a way to solve the good goalies on the island.
Easier said than Dun. Sorry.
Armitage Mens Wear Three Stars:
1. Derek Dun
2. Kyle Kramer
3. Drew Dorantes
