TRAIL — The Clippers lost 3-2 to the Smoke Eaters to end the month of February, and to end a ten game point streak that dated back to Jan. 25.
Nanaimo was outshot 14-7 in the first period but the game remained scoreless thanks to some stellar netminding from Vladimir Nikitin.
Trail opened the scoring early in the middle frame and would eventually extend their lead to 2-0 on tallies by Evan Sundar and Brayden Sinclair.
Justin Collins got the Clippers on the board after taking a goalmouth pass from Dylan Kinch.
Late in the period the Smoke Eaters got what would be the game winning goal on a shot from Jason Stefanek on a delayed penalty call.
Nanaimo pressed in the third period and got a goal from Tanner Bruender just after a Trail major penalty had expired.
The Clippers also ended the game on a man advantage but failed to score.
Trail outshot Nanaimo 33-22 with the Clippers going 0/4 on the power play and 3/3 killing penalties.
In the second period Nanaimo lost captain Connor DeTurris to injury and defenceman Will Subject left the ice in the third period not to return.
The Clippers remain in seventh place in the Coastal Division standings, one point behind sixth place Alberni Valley.
On Mar. 1 Nanaimo will travel to West Kelowna for a 7 p.m. faceoff in their final non-conference game of the season.
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