NEW GLASGOW (NS) — Despite a valiant effort Tuesday afternoon against the League leading Yarmouth Mariners, the Grand Falls Rapids were defeated by a score of 2-0 in their second game of the MHL Showcase played in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.
The Rapids didn’t seem at all intimidated by their opponents who represent a power house this season in the League. Sandy MacCarthy’s squad was even the better team on the ice most of the time, showing that they could rival with their opponents on many facets of the game.
Grand Falls played with great intensity during the entire contest, knocking on the door of Mariners’ goaltender Alec McVicar who stood his ground.
Dawson Wood came the closest to put the Rapids on the board during the first 25 minutes of play when he almost had an open net to shoot at but McVicar’s poke check at the last second kept the game scoreless.
The Rapids had two power play opportunities in the period, but most importantly, they avoided the penalty box which is a good thing against a Mariners’ team that is very effective with the man advantage.
Shots on goal were 11-8 in favour of Grand Falls in the opening frame.
The second period started out with lots of open ice for both teams but the goaltenders remained solid.
The Mariners finally had their opportunity on the power play close to the 10 minute mark of the period and cashed in on the game’s first goal. Andrew Martell was credited with the goal as he tipped in a shot close to Rapids’ goalie Andrew Rose who had no chance to react on the play.
However, the Rapids continued to press in the Mariners’ zone and with less than 6 minutes to play on their fourth power play opportunity of the game, they thought they had tied the score but the goal was disallowed as the officials on the ice determined that the puck was pushed with a skate into the Mariners’ goal.
Grand Falls pulled out their goaltender for a sixth attacker with less than a minute remaining but it was Andrew Martell who put the game away with his second of the contest into an empty net.
Despite the low scoring affair, a total of 50 shots on goal was registered, favouring the Rapids 30 to 20. Andrew Rose was chosen the game’s second star.
For the Rapids, the two game trip in Nova Scotia was very positive as the team played much better than they did last weekend. They avoided to play catch up hockey which is essential for a team with less offensive firepower than the strongest offensive teams in the League and they also came back to the basics on the defensive side as they avoided odd man rushes on the part of the opposing team.
Also, goaltending was extremely solid as Andrew Rose stood tall during those two games. Even though the Rapids only scored two goals in two games, they only allowed three, including the last tally against the Mariners in an empty net.
With such a positive outcome, the Rapids will try to win on home ice on Friday night as they will face the Campbellton Tigers at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre. Puck drop will be at 7:30pm.
Source: Patrick Thibault (Grand Falls Rapids)
GAME SUMMARY
1st period:
No scoring
2nd period:
YAR.- Andrew Martell (5) (Daniel Surette; Cade Neilson) 10:06 (PP)
YAR.- Andrew Martell (6) (Daniel Surette) 19:49 (empty net)