The Ridge Meadows Flames are starting a best-of-seven Junior A playoff series against a team they easily handled to close out the regular season – the Port Coquitlam Trailblazers.
The Flames are just coming off two wins over Poco, by scores of 8-3 on Friday, Feb. 20; and 10-2 on Feb. 22.
Former Trailblazer Matthew Biros was the game’s first star on Friday, as the Flames’ 20-year-old playoff acquisition had two goals and three assists, then had two goals and a helper on Sunday.
That gave Biros 40 goals and 88 points on the season, which was good for second in the league. But since joining the Flames, he has been the most dangerous player in the Pacific Junior Hockey League 15 goals and 42 points in 17 games – good for 2.5 points per game.
“He’s a very special, unique player,” said Flames GM Derek Bedard, describing an elite playmaker who finishes hits, and finishes plays.
Manny Sandhu finished the season as the top-scoring rooking in the league, with 13 goals and 65 points in 44 games.
Bedard said Sandhu has been given rare opportunities for a rookie, including a role on the power play, and always delivers.
“If he had the choice he’d take an assist over a goal, but he can rip the puck too,” said the GM.
Marco Oliviero had his first hat trick with the Flames and six points, and was the first star of Sunday’s game. The GM said it was good to see him pile up some points.
“Marco has not been offensively rewarded considering how well he has played for us,” said Bedard.
Sam Allen had a pair of goals and five points in the 10-2 win, and Jonah Power Smith two goals and four points.
Another former Poco player in Nicholas Muc continued his strong play in goal, as he got the win Sunday with 26 saves on 28 shots. In nine games since being acquired by the Flames, the Pitt Meadows player has eight wins and a loss, and a save percentage of .928.
Starting goaltender Matthew Candusso finished the season with a league-best 24 wins in 33 games, with a .920 save percentage.
The Flames start the playoffs against Poco on Tuesday, Feb. 24, then host their regular Friday night game on Feb. 27. Both games start at 7:30 p.m. The series will switch to the Port Coquitlam Community Centre on March 1 and 3, and game five would be back at Cam Neely Arena on March 6, if necessary.
Ridge had an injury plagued regular season, – foremost among the losses being captain Zack Lagrange missing 14 games. But last season’s league scoring leader is back and tearing it up, noted Bedard, with 22 points in his last 10 games.
Looking at how the team has been going, Bedard said they have a chance to do something rare – win three straight Stonehouse Cup championships.
The coming series appears to be one of the most lopsided playoff matchups the Flames have seen in recent years, with every team in the league making the playoffs.
In 49 games, the Flames have 35 wins and 14 losses, and finished second in the Tom Shaw Conference. Poco has a record of 15 wins, 31 losses, and three overtime losses, and were seventh.
The Flames will have to bring a good effort against Poco, asserts Bedard.
“We’ve had a couple of close games this year, and they have some top-end talent.”