NANAIMO — The Clippers fought tooth and nail with the Penticton Vees through 60 plus minutes but fell 3-2 in overtime in Game 3 of the Fred Page Cup.
Nanaimo is in a 3-0 deficit but the last two games of the series couldn’t have been much closer.
The Clippers went down 3-1 in Game 2 with a late empty netter by the Vees and Game 3 was even tighter.
After a scoreless first period, Jeremie Payant opened the scoring for Nanaimo on an early man advantage in the second frame.
Frank Djurasevic knotted the game just a few minutes later and Josh Nadeau gave the Vees a lead before the end of the period with a power play marker.
Keighan Gerrie tied it up 2-2 in the third after an offensive zone turnover and that set the stage for Nanaimo’s third straight Game 3 overtime in the post season.
Nanaimo beat Chilliwack in the third game of the second round, they took down Langley in Game 3 of round three but it was Penticton who would get the OT winner in the Fred Page Cup battle.
Stefano Bottini ended Game 3 at 2:55 of the extra session to lift Penticton to one game away from their 13th BCHL playoff championship.
The Clippers and Vees will be back at Frank Crane Arena for Game 4 on May 18 in a must win scenario for Nanaimo.
The team will hope for another huge crowd after a season high 2332 fans attended Game 3.
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