The Ridge Meadows Flames lit up more red lights than a Christmas tree as they took three out of a possible four points, and scored 10 goals in two weekend games.
Friday night they beat the Grandview Steelers (14-14-1-1) at Planet Ice by a 6-5 score.
Matt Bissett had a four-point night, with two goals and two assist, and his linemates Paul Piluso (two goals and an assist) and Travis Oddy (three assists).
“That line was clicking, and they were dangerous every shift,” said coach Jamie Fiset.
He said the offensive outburst came from simplifying the offence.
Connor Redmond, with a goal and two assist, and Nolan Wallinger with a goal, rounded out the scoring
“We had been looking for the best shot or pretty goals,” said Fiset. “We said ‘let’s just put pucks on the net, and get traffic to the net.’”
On Saturday night the Flames trailed the North Vancouver Wolf Pack (13-13-1-1) by a score of 3-1 after the first period, but came back with goals in the second and third to steal a point in a 4-3 overtime loss.
An overtime miscue by the Flames power play resulted in a turnover and the decisive goal. The point men were passing it between each other, but a defender managed to tip a pass outside the zone, and race onto it for a breakaway.
Vitalik Morozov and Sean Pesut each had a goal and an assist, and Marco Ballarin also scored.
Both goaltenders have showed they can play well at times, but neither has showed the consistency to grab ahold of the starting job. R.J. Bruni started Friday night’s game, allowed three goals on 10 shots, and was pulled from the game. Wesley McLeod was solid the rest of the way, saving 28 of 30 and earning the win.
So, on Saturday McLeod started. The Wolf Pack scored three times on 14 shots, and McLeod was replaced by Bruni before the first period was out.
This time Bruni played well coming off the bench, stopping 22 shots as his team came back and earned a single point for the overtime loss.
The Flames’ next game will be Thursday night at 7:15 at the Mission Leisure Centre, where they will take on the Outlaws.
On Friday they host North Vancouver at 7:30 p.m. at Planet Ice.