The Ridge Meadows Flames took down the top team in the Pacific Junior Hockey League’s Harold Brittain Conference at home Friday night, beating the visiting Abbotsford Pilots 3-2.
It was just the second loss of the season for the Pilots, who are tops in the east with 13 points after nine games.
The win was the second in a row for the Flames, who improve to 3-5-1 this season after a sluggish start.
Flames goaltender Wesley McLeod was the game’s first star, stopping 35 of 37 shots he faced to ensure the win for the home team.
After a scoreless first period, the Flames’ defenceman Travis Oddy had his first junior B goal to put the Flames on the board.
Paul Piluso had his third goal of the season at the 16:08 mark of the second period to put the Flames up 2-0.
Less than two minutes later, Adam Bartsch scored on the power play to give the Flames a three-goal lead.
That would be short-lived, however, as the Pilots mounted their comeback with their first goal of the night with little more than a minute to play in the period, scored by recently acquired forward Mico Dragutinovic.
The Pilots would draw within a goal early in the third period, thanks to a power play marker from Adam Rossi.
McLeod was perfect in net after that, however, and it would be as close as Abbotsford got to tying the game, despite pulling backup goalie Aaron Oakley with 46 seconds to play for the extra attacker.
Piluso led the Flames offence with a goal and an assist, while Nicholas Coltura, Matthew Bissett, Reece Rivard, Mitchell Plevy, and Dean Gilmore each had assists.
Bartsch was named the game’s second star, while Oddy picked up third-star honours.
The Flames penalty kill showed a marked improvement, allowing just a single goal on nine power plays.
The Flames converted on one of their seven extra-man opportunities, and registered just 17 shots on net all game, including two in the third period.
• The Ridge Meadows Flames host the league-leading Richmond Sockeyes this Friday at home at Planet Ice in Maple Ridge. Game time is 7:30 p.m.