The Ridge Meadows Flames fell 8-2 to the Aldergrove Kodiaks Monday night on the road to start their best-of-seven playoff series on a sour note.
The two junior B hockey teams have met six times so far this season, with Aldergrove picking up wins in all six games.
The Kodiaks finished the season with 59 points to take the top spot in the Pacific International Junior Hockey League’s Harold Brittain Conference, while the Flames snuck into the playoffs with 23 points in the No. 4 seed.
The Kodiaks didn’t waste any time Monday night, getting out in front of the Flames 3-0 in the first period.
That prompted the Flames to pull starting goalie Wesley McLeod in favour of back-up Jordan Hospes.
Hospes didn’t fare much better, allowing five goals over the next period and a half.
McLeod was back in net for third period, stopping all 12 shots. In all, the Flames goalies faced 53 shots.
Alexander Smith and Sean Pesut both had goals for the Flames.
Marco Ballarin, Trevor Harris, Keenan Grant, and Dean Gilmore each registered assists.
Game 2 is slated for tonight (Wednesday) in Aldergrove, with the series coming home to Maple Ridge this Friday night for Game 3 at Planet Ice. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Game 4 will be played Monday, March 5, at Planet Ice in Maple Ridge at 9 p.m.