GRAND FALLS – The Edmundston Blizzard won their 5th consecutive game on Friday night, defeating the Grand Falls Rapids by a score of 6-3 in front of a crowd of 1107 assembled at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
The Blizzard scored the first three goals of the game and held a 4-1 lead through two periods of play before the Rapids scored twice to reduce the margin to one goal. However, Edmundston added two more to earn their league-leading 27th victory of the season.
It was a fast-paced game at one point, mixed with some physical play, notably in the final twenty minutes as game misconducts were assessed on both sides.
The Blizzard had their cycle game going early on and spent some quality time in the opposing end, despite being outshot in the first two periods of play.
It only took Dominic LeBlanc 30 seconds into the game to make his mark against his former team, scoring on his specialty one-timer on a great pass from linemate Carl-Anthony Massé. It was LeBlanc’s second goal as a Blizzard and his 19th of the season.
Edmundston took a 2-0 lead at 14:15 on Massé’s 4th of the season as he took control of a rebound in front of the net.
The Rapids did outscore their opponents in the opening frame, 10-9.
Darien Thomson gave the visitors a 3-0 advantage at 5:21 of the second period after he took control of a loose puck in front of the net, giving no chance for Rapids’ netminder Will Hodgson to react.
But it only took 32 seconds after that third Blizzard tally for the Rapids to get on the board. Following a blocked shot at the Edmundston blue line, Nicholas Brennan came in alone of goalkeeper Samuel LeBlanc, scoring his 6th of the season.
The Blizzard would regain a three-goal cushion at 7:43 on a wrist shot from Peter Amanatidis.
The Rapids came out strong in the third period, giving their opponents all they could handle at one point. The game became physical and chippy at times. It was a power play goal that got Grand Falls within two goals of the Blizzard when Jonah Leard came off the wing, sending a shot that goalie LeBlanc partially blocked, but had the puck trickle in behind him at 2:41 of the period.
Then at 5:05, Ethan Johnson made it 4-3, scoring on a backhand in front of the net. It was Johnson’a 8th goal of the season.
The Blizzard added their 5th goal at 7:21 with the man advantage when Félix Bedard came around the net with the puck, sending a shot that found its way behind the red line. It was Bédard’s 29th of the season.
Philippe Collette scored in an empty net at 18:52, giving Edmnudston the 6-3 victory.
Grand Falls led in shots on goal, 36 to 31.
For the Rapids, it was a 23rd loss this season as they remain 4 points back of the Campbellton Tigers for 5th spot in the Eastlink North division standings.
As for the Blizzard, they now hold a 3-point lead on the West Kent Steamers atop the North division.
The Rapids will return to action on Sunday afternoon, once again on home ice, as they host the Miramichi Timberwolves for a 3pm contest.
GAME NOTES:
*Carl-Anthony Massé was the only Blizzard player to finish the game with more than 1 point… he had 1g and 1a.
For the Rapids, two players collected 1g and 1a: Jonah Leard and Ethan Johnson.
*Both teams scored once on the power play.
*52 minutes of penalties were assessed in the first period, none in the second and a total of 58 min. in the third period.
*Game attendance: 1107
*Three stars of the game: 1- Jérémy Fortin (EDM); 2- Ethan Johnson (GFR); 3- Samuel LeBlanc (EDM)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
1st
0:30 EDM Dominic LeBlanc (19) ASST: Carl-Anthony Massé (3)
14:15 EDM Carl-Anthony Massé (4) ASST: Colby Morin (5)
2nd
5:21 EDM Darien Thomson (2) ASST: Nicolas Dube (3), Alexis Jacques (15)
5:53 GFR Nicholas Brennan (6) ASST: Jeremy Boulanger (24), Luc Ruff (6)
7:43 EDM Peter Amanatidis (13) ASST: Noah Matulu (7), Anastasios Lazaris (8)
3rd
2:41 GFR Jonah Leard (7) ASST: Ethan Johnson (19) (PP)
5:05 GFR Ethan Johnson (8) ASST: Jonah Leard (5), Will Morrison (10)
7:21 EDM Felix Bedard (29) ASST: Jérémy Fortin (20) (PP)
18:52 EDM Philippe Collette (21) ASST: Felix Bedard (39) (EN)