CHALEUR WINS 5-4 IN OVERTIME
GRAND FALLS – Zachary Rushton’s second goal of the game, scored at 7:30 in overtime, propelled the Chaleur Lightning to a 5-4 victory over the Rapids Sunday night in Grand Falls. Chaleur wins the best-of-seven MetalFab quarter final series in five games.
The winning tally came off a rebound in front of the net as Rushton went with a backhander to close out the series and end a glorious season for the Rapids who played a terrific game despite the loss.
Over 1000 spectators at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre witnessed an intense contest from start to finish.
Greg Leland’s squad trailed by two goals at one point but came back to tie the score in the third period to send the game into extra time.
It took a while however for the Rapids to get into rhythm and show their explosiveness on the offensive front. When goaltender Adam Lecours made a couple of key saves on a breakaway midway in the opening period, momentum seemed to shift in favor of Grand Falls. Declan Kennedy was the first player to score, taking advantage of a loose puck in front of the net to give the Rapids a 1-0 lead at 13:42.
The Lightning did tie the score with less than two minutes remaining in the frame on a goal from Daivd Lebel to the stick side of Lecours.
The Rapids didn’t take long to regain the lead going into the second period. As a matter of fact, it took only 10 seconds for Reid Calder to score on a wrist shot coming from the slot. That lead would evaporate quickly however as Chaleur scored three unanswered goals to go ahead 4-2. Mason Cook (7:52), Zachary Rushton (10:11) and Carter Bromley (12:55) all scored for the Lightning in the middle frame.
The Rapids were able to reduce the margin at 15:55 on a power play goal from Jonah Leard, his 6th goal of the series. Leard beat Chaleur netminder Jack Flanagan with a wrist shot to the stick side, cutting Chaleur’s lead to 4-3.
It could have been worse for the Rapids following a 4-minute minor penalty in the second portion of the third period, which happened to be their only infraction of the entire game. They were able to successfully escape without allowing a goal, which eventually led to Nathan-Plamondon Michaud’s tying marker at 16:49. Michaud was able to win the draw on a faceoff in Lightning territory, sending the puck directly past Flanagan between the pads.
The Rapids had their chances in the overtime period, getting two opportunities on the power play but they were unable to cash in.
The Lightning replied with the winning goal by Zachary Rushton, his 3rd goal of the series.
The Rapids finished the game 1 for 5 on the power play, which would eventually be the difference-maker in the contest.
The final tally in shots on goal were 43 to 35 in favor of Grand Falls.
Despite the heart-breaking loss, many Rapids fans stayed to cheer their team after the game, thanking them for an exciting season. It was the first playoff appearance in 8 seasons for Grand Falls, which was capped by a first-place finish in the Eastlink North division standings. It will be a season to cherish and grow on for those who will carry the torch into next season.
ADITIONNAL NOTES
*The Rapids scored the first goal in all five games of this series. They also were defeated twice by a one goal differential, both times on home ice.
*The Lightning will now face the Edmundston Blizzard in the best-of-seven MetalFab semi-final series.
*Three stars of the game: 1- Zachary Rushton (CHA): 2- Declan Kennedy (GFR); 3- David Lebel (CHA)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 13:42 | GFR | Declan Kennedy (1) ASST: Tristan Richard (1), Conor Ryan (3) | |
| 18:49 | CHA | David Lebel (2) ASST: Jack Hayne (6), Thomas Hendrickson (1) | |
| 2nd | |||
| 0:10 | GFR | Reid Calder (1) ASST: None | |
| 7:52 | CHA | Mason Cook (1) ASST: Carter Bromley (6), David Lebel (2) | |
| 10:11 | CHA | Zachary Rushton (2) ASST: Jack Hayne (7), Ben Cross (4) | |
| 12:55 | CHA | Carter Bromley (4) ASST: None | |
| 15:55 | GFR | Jonah Leard (6) ASST: Coen Miller (5), Loic Francoeur (3) (PP) | |
| 3rd | |||
| 16:49 | GFR | Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (1) ASST: None | |
| 1st OT | |||
| 7:30 | CHA | Zachary Rushton (3) ASST: Owen Arnold (1), Jack Hayne (8) |