Nanaimo, BC – The Powell River Kings (6-3) dropped a 3-0 decision to the Nanaimo Clippers (3-3-1) on Sunday afternoon at the Frank Crane Arena.
The Kings are shutout for the second time in their last three games. They have now lost three of their four games, while being outscored 12-to-5 during that time.
“We weren’t engaged,” said Powell River Kings assistant coach Brock Sawyer. “You won’t win many hockey games if you come out and give up two goals in the first 10-minutes. We were disengaged right from the drop of the puck.”
Jordan Naylor made 31-saves for his first career junior shutout. Trevor LeDonne, Scott Mahovlich and Joshua Bourne scored the Clippers goals.
LeDonne opened the scoring for Nanaimo early in the first period. His shot from the mid-slot hit Matteo-Paler-Chow’s pad and bounced into the net. Mahovlich would follow up the Clippers opening goal with a deflection goal, giving Nanaimo a 2-0 lead after one period.
The Powell River Kings outshot the Nanaimo Clippers 31-23, as the Kings outshot their opponent for the first time in four games. Brock Sawyer says that a lot of their shots were right at Naylor’s chest, and from the outside.
“It was a pretty easy day for him,” said Sawyer. “A lot of our shots were pumped right into his chest, and there weren’t many second chance shots. He saw a lot of pucks, but we did not screen him, as a lot of our shots were from the perimeter.”
The Kings now fall four points behind the Island Division’s first place Cowichan Valley Capitals. The Kings are back in action on Wednesday at the two day BCHL Showcase. Their first game will be at 1:00 p.m., against the Victoria Grizzlies in Chilliwack.
