The Ridge Meadows Flames came back from a 5-1 third-period deficit to win their opening game of the junior B playoffs Friday, edging the Pilots 6-5 in overtime, in Abbotsford.
Andrew Strelezki scored his second goal of the night at 9:53 of extra time to give the Flames a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven quarter-final series.
Zachary McKee forced overtime when he scored on a penalty-shot late in the third period.
Trailing 3-0 in the second period, Brandon Galbraith put the Flames on the board, with assists from Jonah Lige and Frank Zhong.
Down 5-1 entering the third, Taylor Seganfreddo scored, unassisted, to make it 5-2. Strelezki then scored from Paul Georgeopoulos and Ryan Wellburn. And Alexandre Furlan scored from McKee and Galbraith.
Abbotsford outshot Ridge 50-39 in the game. Jack Stradiotti stopped 12 of 16 shots before he was pulled. Paul Tucek entered and stopped 33 of 34 shots, including seven in overtime for the win.
The same two teams play tonight, Planet Ice, 7: 30 p.m.