Saturday, February 22, 2014

Eagles 3 Clippers 1

A pair of Vancouver Northwest Giants put in stellar performances Saturday, as the Surrey Eagles posted a 3-1 victory over the Clippers in Nanaimo.

Anthony Conti scored twice, while 16 year-old netminder Bo Didur made 31 saves as Surrey bumped a three-game mini-slump, earning the season series sweep over the Clippers in the process.

Surrey opened the scoring early in the opening frame thanks to Conti, who bumped a five-game goal-less drought with a deft wrister. The Eagles forced several big saves out of Clippers goaltender Jayson Argue, but the hosts stayed level through the opening frame after Sheldon Rempal wired home a shot from the right wing.

The Eagles won four consecutive power-plays in the second period, but nearly fell behind early in the middle frame when, while short-handed, Clippers forward Corey Renwick struck Bo Didur's left post inside the opening two minutes.

The score remained level until the 14:52 mark of the second when Joe Drapluk put the finishing touches on a power-play marker after defenseman Matt Dawson held the line.

Both goaltenders continued to stymie their opposing shooters in a cagey third period, before Conti iced things for Surrey with an empty-net marker.

The Eagles, who gave up 6 power-plays in Friday's loss in Powell River, played a much more disciplined game Saturday. Surrey were short-handed only once, with Nanaimo's lone man-advantage coming midway through the third period.

Argue made 29 saves for Nanaimo in the loss.

My Three Stars:
1. Bo Didur, Surrey
2. Jayson Argue, Nanaimo
3. Anthony Conti, Surrey

Up Next: The Eagles complete their regular-season schedule with a Sunday matinee in Victoria against the Grizzlies. Game time is 2:00 pm.

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