CHALEUR DEFEATS RAPIDS IN OVERTIME
BATHURST – Easton Adrian scored at 3:19 into overtime, giving the Chaleur Lightning a 4-3 victory over the Rapids in a game played Friday night at the KC Irving Regional Centre in Bathurst.
Chaleur is now 1-point behind the Rapids for top spot in the Eastlink North division standings. The Lightning have, however, three games in hand on Grand Falls.
The Rapids fought back from a 3-1 deficit with two quick goals in the second period.
Chaleur had a slight edge in the shots on goal department, 24 to 22.
The Lightning scored twice in the first 6 minutes of play, jumping ahead to a 2-0 lead. Jaxon Pierce scored on a two-on-one break at 2:57, followed by Thomas Hendrickson’s tally at 6:10.
The Rapids cut the margin at the 13-minute mark on Coen Miller’s 20th goal of the season. Well positioned in front of the crease, Miller received a pass from Conor Ryan from behind the net, bringing the score to 2-1.
Chaleur regained a two-goal lead at 9:22 of the second period on a power play tally from Ben Cross. His shot from the face-off dot beat Rapids’ netminder Adam Lecours, giving the home team a 3-1 lead.
The Lightning got into penalty trouble late in the frame, which led to a power play goal for the Rapids at 14:57. Reid Calder was the recipient of Grand Falls’ second goal, his 8th of the campaign.
Less than a minute later, at 15:29, Declan Kennedy tied the score on a wrister from the slot.
No goals were scored in the third period of play.
Adrian’s winning goal in extra time was scored on a one-timer in front of the net, giving Chaleur its 20th victory of the season.
For the Rapids, it was their 5th overtime loss of the campaign.
Jack Flanagan, recently acquired in a trade from Miramichi, picked up the win between the pipes, making 19 saves.
The Rapids will return to action on Sunday afternoon when they host their Northwestern rivals, the Edmundston Blizzard. Puck drop is at 3pm at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
EXTRA NOTES
*Jaxon Pierce and Easton Adrian both finished the game with 1g 1a for Chaleur while Jayden Burtt-Munn earned 2 assists.
No player for the Rapids finished the game with more than 1-point.
*The Rapids went 1 for 5 on the power play while Chaleur scored once on 3 PP opportunities.
*It was Vincent Robert’s second game for the Rapids since joining the team after the holiday break. He received third star honors.
*Three stars of the game: 1- Easton Adrian (CHA); 2- Jayden Burtt-Munn (CHA); 3- Vincent Robert (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 2:57 | CHA | Jaxon Pierce (1) ASST: Jayden Burtt-Munn (5), Will Clark (6) | |
| 6:10 | CHA | Thomas Hendrickson (1) ASST: Carter Bromley (20), Jayden Burtt-Munn (6) | |
| 13:06 | GFR | Coen Miller (20) ASST: Conor Ryan (12), Jonah Leard (30) | |
| 2nd | |||
| 9:22 | CHA | Ben Cross (23) ASST: Jack Hayne (23), Easton Adrian (3) (PP) | |
| 14:57 | GFR | Reid Calder (8) ASST: Isaac Allard (14), Oliver Plante (9) (PP) | |
| 15:29 | GFR | Declan Kennedy (5) ASST: Anton Topilnyckyj (11), Tristan Richard (7) | |
| 3rd | |||
| No Scoring | |||
| 1st OT | |||
| 3:19 | CHA | Easton Adrian (3) ASST: Zachary Rushton (19), Jaxon Pierce (2) | |