The Ridge Meadows Flames couldn’t overcome an early four-goal deficit as they lost their second game in a row to the North Vancouver Wolf Pack Friday night at home, by a score of 7-5.
The local junior B hockey club fell behind 3-0 in the first period, resulting in starting goaltender Wesley McLeod getting the hook after facing 13 shots.
The Wolf Pack scored less than two minutes later on Jordan Eggert.
With North Vancouver up by four, the Flames got to work chipping away at the lead.
Danny Brandys got the Flames on the board late in the first, while Shane Harle and Sean Pesut each had goals in the second period.
Paul Piluso scored a power play goal early in the third period to bring the Flames to within one, with the score 5-4.
After trading power play goals, the Flames pulled their goalie for the extra attacker in an attempt to even up the score. However, the Wolf Pack scored an empty-net goal with 16 seconds left to play to hand the Flames their 15th loss of the season.
Harle got second star honours for his three-point performance with two goals and an assist, while Keegan Hunter was named the game’s third star with a trio os assists. Piluso finished with a goal and an assist, as did Brandys and Pesut. Eggert, Reece Rivard, and Alexander Smith each picked up assists.
• The Flames face the conference-leading Aldergrove Kodiaks tonight (Wednesday) on the road before returning home on Friday to host the Mission Icebreakers. Game time is 7:30 p.m.