EDMUNDSTON COMES FROM BEHIND TO DEFEAT THE RAPIDS
EDMUNDSTON – The Edmundston Blizzard scored 6 unanswered goals in the third period on Saturday night, including the last two in an empty net, skating away with an 8-5 victory on home ice over the Grand Falls Rapids.
The Blizzard thus completed a great comeback as the Rapids were ahead 5-1 early in the second period. They outskated Grand Falls in the final twenty minutees of play and were by far the most intense team. Edmundston scored the last 7 goals of the contest, which shows how the game turned around drastically in their favor.
It was a heart-breaking loss for the Rapids who gave a solid performance and had their Northwestern rivals on the ropes, notably during the first 40 minutes of play of the contest.
The Blizzard came out strong however in the third. Mitchell McLeod cut the Rapids’ lead to two goals at 1:24, just before Tristan Fortin took care of business with two goals in a span of only 23 seconds to tie the score with less than 5 minutes played into the third period.
Jake Measel gave Edmundston the lead at the mid-way point with a one-timer in front of the net. Mitchell McLeod (his second of the game) and Drake Flynn each scored in an empty net to complete the scoring for the Blizzard.
It was the Rapids’ third loss this season and their second consecutive defeat on the road.
Edmundston dominated the game in shots on goal, 48 to 31.
The Blizzard outshot the Rapids in the opening period, 15 to 10. They were also able to keep their opponents deep into their own territory during the first few minutes of play, which led to the first goal of the game scored by Peter Amanatidis on a deflection in front of the Grand Falls’ net.
The Rapids were however the most opportunistic team in the opening frame. They tied the score at 4:32 with the man advantage when Dominic Leblanc took control of a loose puck in the crease, scoring on a backhand shot. It was Leblanc’s 5th tally of the season and his first on the power play.
And despite the fact that the Blizzard controlled play during the final minutes of the first period, it was Grand Falls who took the lead on Spencer Desveaux’s 2nd goal of the season at 19:05. Desveaux took control of the puck deep in the crease, giving the Rapids a 2-1 lead after twenty minutes of play.
There were only 31 seconds played into the second period when the Rapids added to their lead. Adam Fowlow tried to pass the puck in front of the net, but it deflected off Blizzard goaltender Raphael Audet and found its way in. Then on a breakaway, Dominic Leblanc scored the Rapids’ fourth goal and his second of the night, sending a backhand shot in the top corner. After 1:27 of play in the middle frame, the Rapids were suddenly ahead 4-1.
The Blizzard had the opportunity to cut the margin on a couple of power play chances, but it was Grand Falls who added a 5th goal. On a two on one break, Dominic Leblanc delivered a perfect pass to Adam Fowlow who sent a one-timer in the back of the net, a shorthanded goal scored at 5:21.
Edmundston scored its second goal on a shot from a short angle. Noah Gibbs was credited with the goal at 6:37.
Edmundston was awarded a penalty shot late in the period, but Nolan Boyd shut the door.
Grand Falls dominated the second period in shots on goal, 13 to 11.
The Blizzard controlled the third period, sending a total of 22 shots on netminder Nolan Boyd while Grand Falls only shot 8 times.
The Rapids will have to regroup quickly as they return on the ice Sunday afternoon for a matchup with the Fredericton Red Wings. Puck drop is at 3 pm at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
Patrick Thibault
GAME NOTES:
*Adam Fowlow and Dominic Leblanc each led the way offensively for the Rapids with 2 goals and 1 assist.
Tristan Fortin also finished the game with 2g and 1a for Edmundston.
*Alexis Cournoyer was in uniform for his first regular season game with the Rapids. He finished the contest with 1 assist to his credit. Absent from the lineup however was captain Kyle Foreman.
*Three stars of the game: 1- Tristan Fortin (EDM); 2- Tristan Therrien (EDM); 3- Adam Fowlow (GFR)
*Game attendance : 2198 spectators
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 3:11 | EDM | Peter Amanatidis (1) ASST: Tristan Fortin (3), Brendan Sibley (2) | |
| 4:32 | GFR | Dominic Leblanc (5) ASST: Yannic Bastarache (2), Zac Arsenault (5) (PP) | |
| 19:05 | GFR | Spencer Desveaux (2) ASST: None | |
| 2nd | |||
| 0:31 | GFR | Adam Fowlow (2) ASST: None | |
| 1:27 | GFR | Dominic Leblanc (6) ASST: Adam Fowlow (1), Cody Rossignol (1) | |
| 5:21 | GFR | Adam Fowlow (3) ASST: Dominic Leblanc (5) (SH) | |
| 6:37 | EDM | Noah Gibbs (1) ASST: Brendan Sibley (3), Jacob Long (3) | |
| 3rd | |||
| 1:24 | EDM | Mitchell McLeod (2) ASST: None | |
| 4:21 | EDM | Tristan Fortin (7) ASST: Tristan Therrien (4), Ethan Johnson (6) | |
| 4:54 | EDM | Tristan Fortin (8) ASST: Tristan Therrien (5) | |
| 10:07 | EDM | Jake Measel (1) ASST: Alex Savoie (2), Jérémy Duguay (1) | |
| 19:16 | EDM | Mitchell McLeod (3) ASST: None (EN) | |
| 19:35 | EDM | Drake Flynn (1) ASST: None (EN) |