EDMUNDSTON – The Edmundston Blizzard scored two late second period goals as they came from behind to take the lead, sending them to a 5-3 victory Friday night against the Rapids at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
With Grand Falls ahead 2-1 at the mid-way point of the game, Jeremy Ste-Marie tied the score for Edmundston at the 15-minute mark of the second period. Ryan Loveless gave the Blizzard the lead for good at 17:53, a power play goal that gave the locals a 3-2 advantage after forty minutes of play.
It was the Blizzard’s second win in a row against the Rapids who fall to 7-10-3 on the season for a total of 17 points in the Eastlink North division standings.
Edmundston jumped on top early in the first period on a goal from Alexis Jacques at 2:30. Peter Amanatidis, who played a strong game for the Blizzard, picked up the lone assist.
The Rapids tied the score at 18:21 on a two-on-one break. Cole MacWilliam came in carrying the puck and sent a shot from the faceoff dot that deflected off a defender, finding the back of the net. It was MacWilliam’s 3rd tally of the season as Ty Hunter and Will Morrison both assisted on the tying goal.
The Rapids came out strong in the middle frame, dominating their opponents for a large part of the period. They even took the lead at 9:30 on Jonah Leard’s 4th of the season while Grand Falls was on a power play.
From the corner, defenseman Raphael Denis fed a pass in front to Leard who brought the score 2-1 for the visitors. Dominic LeBlanc, who was the one who carried the puck into Blizzard territory, also was credited with an assist.
The game quickly changed momentum however following the Blizzard’s tying goal by Jeremy Ste-Marie at 15:31, scored following a scramble in front of netminder Adam Lecours.
Then with the man advantage, Edmundston went ahead 3-2 on Ryan Loveless’ backhand shot.
Edmundston’s momentum carried on early in the third as Jérémy Fortin made it 4-2, a shorthanded goal scored at 3:43.
The Rapids did reduce the margin to 4-3 on a power play at 17:03 on Ethan Johnson’s 7th of the campaign following a wrister to the short side of goalie Samuel LeBlanc. But with 5 seconds remaining, Felix Bedard scored in an empty net, securing the win for Edmundston, their 13th of the season.
The Blizzard led the game 37-29 in the shots on goal department.
The Rapids will finish off their weekend on the road on Sunday night as they play the West Kent Steamers. Puck drop is at 7pm in Bouctouche.
GAME NOTES:
*Peter Amanatidis was the leading point-getter for Edmundston, finishing the game with 3 assists. Felix Bedard had a 2-point night with 1g 1a.
No player for Grand Falls had more than 1 point to their credit.
*The Rapids scored 2 power play goals on 4 opportunities with the man advantage.
The Blizzard went 1 for 1 on the PP while scoring once shorthanded.
*Game attendance: 2331
*Three stars of the game: 1- Peter Amanatidis (EDM); 2- Adam Lecours (GFR); Jérémy Fortin (EDM)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
1st
2:30 EDM Alexis Jacques (5) ASST: Peter Amanatidis (8)
18:21 GFR Cole MacWilliam (3) ASST: Ty Hunter (5), Will Morrison (5)
2nd
9:30 GFR Jonah Leard (4) ASST: Raphael Denis (6), Dominic LeBlanc (8) (PP)
15:31 EDM Jeremy Ste-Marie (10) ASST: Peter Amanatidis (9)
17:53 EDM Ryan Loveless (7) ASST: Felix Bedard (18) (PP)
3rd
3:43 EDM Jérémy Fortin (9) ASST: Peter Amanatidis (10) (SH)
17:03 GFR Ethan Johnson (7) ASST: Jeremy Boulanger (18), Jules Delepoulle (14) (PP)
19:55 EDM Felix Bedard (17) ASST: Philippe Collette (12) (EN)