The Surrey Eagles kicked off a three game road trip on Friday night in Nanaimo, falling to the Clippers by a score of 5-1. Justin Laforest would make 49 saves in the loss for the Eagles.
The Clippers poured on the pressure early, firing 18 of their shots in the opening period. They would score two, before Donovan Ott answered in the second period with a beautiful top-corner shot to cut the lead to 2-1.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, that score was erased almost immediately by Sheldon Rempal of the Clippers, who would score on a breakaway shortly after. The real backbreaker came on a Chris Dodero goal with only 43 seconds remaining in the second period.
As the game became increasingly more physical, it began to tighten up, with only one goal being scored by either team in the third period. The period began with a nearly four minute long 5-on-3 penalty kill for the Eagles, as they survived the shooting gallery without surrendering a goal against.
Gassed from the multiple penalty kills, the Eagles failed to muster a sorely-needed comeback, and would fall to the Clippers by a score of 5-1. A crowd of over 2,000 fans packed the Frank Crane Arena to see the home team notch the victory.
The Eagles continue their road trip tomorrow night against Alberni Valley, before wrapping up the road trip in Powell River with a matinee game against the Kings.
