Theo Kochan scored in double overtime, and gave his Ridge Meadows Flames a 2-1 series lead in the Stonehouse Cup.
Game four in the best-of-seven series goes Monday, March 25 at Cam Neely Arena, as the Flames continue their pursuit of a Pacific Junior Hockey League championship against the Richmond Sockeyes.
It was the 10th goal of the playoffs for the Pitt Meadows product, and his second of the game. He took a long pass, cruised into the high slot, and unleashed a wicked wrist shot that won the game.
The Flames jumped out to a 2-0 lead midway through the first period, on goals by star defenceman Jakob Loewen and Kochan. Loewen scored on a shot from the blueline on the power play, with traffic in front of the net. Kochon got his first by finishing a three-on-one rush with a slick backhander.
But the talented Sockeyes got one back before the end of the opening period, and then tied it up with a shorthanded goal midway through the third period.
From there it was a goaltending duel, ultimately won by Flame Matthew Candusso, who made 39 saves on 41 shots. Kochan was the game’s first star, and Candusso second.
“I thought we came out hard, and just kept the foot on the pedal the whole time,” Flames captain Lukas Ravenstein said in a post-game interview with team broadcaster Andrew Cheverie
“Everyone throughout the lineup played great – the APs (affiliate players), Candy – just an unbelievable effort from everyone.”
Through eight playoff starts, rookie goalie “Candy” Candusso has gone 7-1, with sweet 1.77 goals against average and 0.935 save percentage.
With 10 goals in 11 games, Kochan is the top scorer in the PJHL playoffs, and fourth in points with 17.
A meeting of two of the league’s most dominant regular-season teams of all time, the series has been marked by numerous lead changes, great defensive play, and opportunistic special teams.
Tonight’s game will be at 7:30 p.m., and then the series will head to Richmond on Thursday night. If Richmond forces a sixth game, it will be played back in Maple Ridge on Saturday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m.
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