GRAND FALLS – For the second consecutive game, the Rapids made a valiant comeback in the final minutes of regulation time, forcing overtime.
On Sunday afternoon in front of a crowd of 1060 spectators at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre, the Rapids scored three unanswered goals in the final 4 minutes of play of the third period to tie the game against the Blizzard, but fell short once again in the shootout session as the final score was 6-5 in favor of Edmundston.
There were many similarities with Friday night’s contest against the Miramichi Timberwolves. Most of the scoring occurred once again in the third period as goals came in bunches. And one more time did the Rapids come from behind to send the game into extra time.
Trailing 5-2 with under 5 minutes to play in regulation, Jonah Leard cut the visitors’ lead to two goals by tallying his second of the game and his 10th of the season. At 17:38, Derek Bird scored on a rebound in front of the net to bring the score to 5-4. Then with only 26 seconds remaining in the third period, Brayden Campbell sent a wrist shot to the far side of the net, sending the partisan crowd into a frenzy.
No goals were scored in the 5-minute overtime frame, even though both teams came close toputting an end to the contest.
Philippe Collette was the only player on both sides to find the back of the net in the shootout session, giving Edmundston its 16thvictory of the season.
Collette would also be the first to score in the first period, giving the Blizzard a 1-0 lead through twenty minutes of play.
Carl-Anthony Massé would add to the lead at 6:32 of the middle frame before Raphael Denis(his first of the season) would score for the Rapids at 9:17 after taking control of a loose puck to the side of the net.
Jonah Leard tied the score 2-2 at 1:36 of the third period on a shot that went through the legs of Blizzard netminder Simon Boucher.
However, Edmundston came back with two goals in less than a minute, with the first one coming only 13 seconds after Grand Falls’ tying goal. Darien Thomson put the visitors ahead 3-2. Alex Thibault, at 2:24, would double the lead. Will Carroll made it 5-2 for the Blizzard at 14:53 before the Rapids made their comeback.
Will Allen and Mathieu Boucher both finished the game with 2 assists for Edmundston.
Jonah Leard (2 goals) and Raphael Denis (1g 2a) led the way offensively for the Rapids. Caleb MacDonald and Jeremy D’Astous also contributed, each picking up 2 assists.
Goaltender Adam Lecours made some great saves for the Rapids, keeping his team in the contest. He faced a total of 46 shots while the Rapids sent 33 shots on the opposing net.
It was the Rapids’ 5th consecutive loss, but they still earn 1 point in the EastLink North standings which brings their total on the season to 9.
*3 STARS OF THE GAME:
1- Jeremy Fortin (EDM); 2- Jonah Leard (GFR);3- Will Allen (EDM)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
|
1st |
|
|
|
|
2:29 |
EDM |
Philippe Collette (9) ASST: Will Allen (12), Alexis Jacques (16) |
|
|
2nd |
|
|
|
|
6:32 |
EDM |
Carl-Anthony Massé (7) ASST: Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (8), Mathieu Boucher (6) |
|
|
9:17 |
GFR |
Raphael Denis (1) ASST: Nicholas Brennan (5) |
|
|
3rd |
|
|
|
|
1:36 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (9) ASST: Jeremy D’Astous (14), Raphael Denis (7) |
|
|
1:49 |
EDM |
Darien Thomson (3) ASST: Mathieu Boucher (7) |
|
|
2:24 |
EDM |
Alex Thibault (3) ASST: None |
|
|
14:53 |
EDM |
Will Carroll (1) ASST: Will Allen (13) |
|
|
16:43 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (10) ASST: Jeremy D’Astous (15), Caleb MacDonald (4) |
|
|
17:38 |
GFR |
Derek Bird (2) ASST: Jack Brown (5), Dawson Grandy (1) |
|
|
19:34 |
GFR |
Brayden Campbell (5) ASST: Raphael Denis (8), Caleb MacDonald (5) |
|
|
1st OT |
|
|
|
|
No Scoring |
|||