Hot, sizzling, scorching – all of these hackneyed expressions for a team on a roll have been used to describe the play of the Ridge Meadows Flames over the life of the franchise – but not so much in recent years.
Those terms haven’t applied much, until this December.
With a 6-0 melting of the Grandview Steelers on Friday night, all of these adjectives can once again be trotted out, as the searing Flames have now gone undefeated through their past five games.
Their blistering offence has outscored their opposition by an aggregate score of 19-6 over that stretch.
The fevered play of goaltender Tyler Read has seen him post a 27-save shutout against the Steelers, and allow just one goal on his last 52 shots.
Head coach Jamie Fiset also gives credit to a blueline that has been finally restored to full health. Having veterans Max Metzner and Nick Coltura both back in the lineup, and putting heat on opposing forwards has made the Flames tough to beat.
“We finally have healthy defencemen,” said Fiset. “And our young guys have been getting good minutes.”
The smouldering stick of Jake Holland accounted for two of Friday night’s goals, while newcomer Mike Bell and team captain Travis Oddy each had a goal and an assist. Jordan Rendle and Dale Howell also scored.
Fiset said the coaching staff has emphasized getting a full, 60-minute effort in each outing, and the team has responded.
The blazing run has the Flames looking legit, and their record is an almost respectable 10-12-3 (overtime losses) and two (ties).
They will have a chance to improve on it tomorrow night in Mission, where they face the frost-covered Mission City Outlaws. The Mission club has not won in five games.
Flames fans can warm their feet against the Planet Ice plexiglass as they watch their hot team on Friday night.
Their win streak faces a serious threat, however, as the Aldergrove Kodiaks are in town, sporting a league-best record of 21-4-0-2, and three of the leagues top four scorers. Stephen Ryan boasts 27 goals and 53 points in 27 games and is the favourite to win a scoring title.
The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.