Sockeye’s/Flames Game Update

Photo Credit Owen Norman-Laver. 

To no real surprise both clubs were going with their “hot hand” between the pipes with Ridge going with Mathew Candusso while the Sockeyes continued to ride Noah Stenvig who has been their go-too tender for the series.

Following their impressive 7-0 road win they returned to Minour that saw them continue their strong play opening the scoring 1:01 in with Teo Lin (7) followed by Justin Grant (10) giving them the early 2-0 lead at 2:01 on the PP.

The Sockeyes managed a SH marker at 7:44 while serving a Boarding minor that saw them take a 3-0 lead to the dressing room after one in a period that saw them outshoot 15-12.

The teams played aggressive but continued the strong forechecking style that saw neither team add numbers to the score through forty minutes with the Flames continuing to outshoot the home squad by 18-13.

The Flames managed to penetrate Stenvig getting on the board at 15:12 pulling within two only to have Gavin Bains collect an EN marker at 19:45 to give the Sockeyes the “W” giving them a 3-2 series lead.

The third saw Ridge outshoot the Sockeyes by a 12-5 finishing with 45 compared to the 30 delivered at Candusso. 

Game six of the series would continue Saturday at Planet Ice in Maple Ridge in what was considered a “must win’ game for Ridge to continue their season in hopes of having any redemption from last season’s loss.

There was no question from the fans taking in the game that clearly the pressure was on the Flames if they had any chance to extend the series and have any redemption from last season’s game 7 loss to the Ice Hawks.

To no surprise both teams were riding both Candusso and Stenvig between the pipes that saw Ridge get their first of the game at 7:18 from Theo Kochan (11) followed by his second at 12:49 bringing the fan base to their feet.

Teo Lin (8) pulled the Sockeyes within one at 17:20 with Stewart getting the only helper in a period that saw Ridge outshoot Richmond by a narrow 14-12 margin while Ridge was assessed two minors to three for the Sockeyes.

The second saw Richmond come out with more jump with Gavin Bains (6) getting a PP marker tying the game at two only to have Ridge finish the period with a pair from Pierce Whyte (6) and Zack Lagrange (10) with Ridge up 4-2 after two.

The third saw Ridge come out with more oa a jump turning aside all shots directed at Candusso that saw Lagrange (11) put the Flames up by a 5-4 margin followed with Pierce Whyte (7) giving them a 6-2 lead.

That caused a change with the Sockeyes sending in Thomas Popa to finish the remaining 16:11 of the contest making several key saves in the back-end that saw Candusso turn aside any shots directed his way.

The later part of the third saw Teo Lin go down with what waa best described as a “lower body injury” forcing him to be helped off the ice to the dressing room.

The end result saw Ridge Meadows pull out a 6-2 win forcing game seven back at Minoru with an afternoon matinee at 4 pm April 1st, which wasn’t an April Fool’s joke.

This game saw Ridge collect all three stars in a game that saw the Sockeyes outshoot Ridge Meadows by a narrow 32-29 margin.

In any seven game series it comes down to play a full sixty minutes and one shift at a time.