Another win-loss weekend for Devils

Two good efforts led to the predictable split for the North Delta Devils on the weekend.

The Pacific International Junior Hockey League team kept their record at the .500 mark after a 4-2 loss Friday night in Maple Ridge against the Ridge Meadows Flames, and a 4-3 victory over the Delta Ice Hawks Saturday night at the Sungod Arena.

Goals by Andrew Graham and Jean Merchan in the first three minutes of the third period erased a 3-2 Ice Hawks lead and lifted North Delta to the win Saturday night.

James Cruickshank had the two other Flyers tallies, both in the first period. Outshot 34-19 in the first two periods, the Devils were kept in the game by the goaltending of Josh Krenus, who finished the night with 35 saves on 38 shots.

North Delta enjoyed a 13-4 shots advantage in the third period.

The Devils had the run of the play Friday night in Ridge Meadows, but couldn’t find a way to put more than two pucks behind Flames goalie Peter Van Stolk, who turned aside 63 of 65 North Delta shots and was named the game’s first star.

Jas Rai scored North Delta’s first goal late in the first period, after the Flames already had built a 3-0 lead.

It was 4-1 in the third period before Merchan netted a powerplay goal with just eight seconds to play.

The Devils powerplay, which had at one time gone 31 opportunities without a goal earlier this month, was a combined three-for-23 over the two games. The penalty killing, a strength for North Delta, killed of two of 21 shorthanded situations.

The Devils, now at 17-17-1-1 (won-lost-tied-overtime loss) and in sixth place on the season with 12 games to play, host the seventh-place Hope Ice Breakers (13-17-1-3) Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Sungod Arena, before traveling to the Richmond Arena Sunday to play the fifth-place Sockeyes (16-12-3-4) at 5:45 p.m.

BLUE LINES: Four Devils have been selected to play in the PIJHL All-star Game tonight in Port Moody.

Forwards Jean Merchan, Mike Bortolin, Jeff Steele and Andrew Graham will suit up for the West team. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.