An early season impression of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League's biggest rivalry is home ice advantage means nothing so far.
Just four days after the Delta Ice Hawks' dominating 4-0 victory at Minoru Arena, the Richmond Sockeyes returned the favour with a 4-1 win at the Ladner Leisure Centre Tuesday night. The home-and-home split left the Sockeyes (7-1-1) with a one point lead over the Ice Hawks (7-2-0) in a battle that is expected to last all season.
After being provided a rude awakening on their home ice, to the tune of being outshot 49-18, the best thing that could have happened to the Sockeyes was a short wait for redemption.
They took care of the North Vancouver Wolfpack 3-1 on Saturday night then put together a solid 60-minute performance in Ladner.
"I kind of compare it to a title fight with these guys where they got round one and we had a chance to regroup and got focused on winning round two," said Richmond coach Aaron Wilbur. "I felt we played an organized and complete game so we are happy.
"We just didn't have a lot of second effort in the first game, especially when it came to puck possession. We talked about our one on one play and protecting the puck. We were good with our sticks tonight and it gave us a chance to do well in other areas.
The Sockeyes led 10 after 20 minutes and doubled the margin on a goal by Dylan Friel who was acquired just hours earlier from the Port Moody Panthers.
The 20-year-old learned of the trade Tuesday afternoon, raced from his job in Langley to his Burnaby home to get his equipment and arrived in Ladner just minutes before the opening faceoff.
Rookie Michael Olsen-Eyre got Delta on the scoreboard but Dean Allison restored the visitors' two-goal lead less than five minutes later. The outcome wasall but sealed when Danton Heinen jumped on an advantageous bounce off the end boards and beat goalie Scott Lapp at the 4: 04 mark of the third period.
The Ice Hawks were playing without league leading scorer Anthony Brito who was at home with the flu. The 20-yearold, who has 25 points in eight games, was huge at the game in Minoru with a pair of goals and one assist. However, his absence was no excuse for the team's subpar performance, according to head coach Dave McLellan.
"I was disappointed in our work effort more than anything," he said. "We pride our selves in hard work and we certainly didn't show up with hard work. Tonight was an example of where we couldn't play effectively in any of the three zones.
"It certainly was not the same level of performance as our previous games. You have to learn from a game like this that being lazy does't work. That's what happens when you get a little complacent after beating one of the best teams in the league."
The Ice Hawks are so far a perfect 4-0 on the road but just 3-2 at home. They have also won their last three games at Minoru, dating back to last season's conference final playoff series.
"The funny thing is we have built this team to play in this rink," laughed McLellan. "Our arena seems to help Richmond where in their arena we have been all over them."
