FOUR WINS IN A ROW FOR THE RAPIDS
GRAND FALLS – The Grand Falls Rapids earned their fourth consecutive victory Monday afternoon as they defeated the Miramichi Timberwolves by a 4-1 score. Over 900 spectators were on hand for this Family Day event presented at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
It was the Rapids 25th victory of the season as they now jump into third spot in the Eastlink North division standings. With only 6 games remaining to their regular season schedule, the Rapids are now only 2 points behind second place held by the Edmundston Blizzard. Both teams will renew their rivalry on Friday night in Grand Falls.
After a scoreless first period on Monday, the Rapids went ahead early in the middle frame on Patrick Baxter’s 17th tally of the season on a shot that went between the post and Timberwolves goalkeeper Samuel Carreiras-Pata at 1:41. Mathis Cyr and Olivier Plante both earned an assist on Grand Falls’ first goal.
Then at 14:05, Bailey Shortall made it 2-0 with a backhand shot following a rebound in front of the crease. It was Shortall’s 10th of the season.
Shots on goal through two periods of play were 26 to 25 in favor of Miramichi.
The Rapids, who allowed only 7 shots on goal to the Timberwolves in the third period, added two more goals in the final twenty minutes of play. Vincent Robert, following a rebound in front of the net, scored his first of the season at 4:34. Defenseman Conor Ryan, on the rush, was able to find the back of the net at the 11-minute mark to bring the score to 4-0.
Goaltender Adam Lecours, who made a total of 32 saves in the contest, lost his shutout bid late in the period when Charles-Olivier Giguère scored Miramichi’s lone goal at 17:20.
Grand Falls had the edge in the shots on goal department, 41 to 33.
Both teams went scoreless on the power play on three PP opportunities.
As mentioned previously, the Rapids will take on their Northwestern rivals from Edmundston on Friday night for a 7pm start at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre. Greg Leland’s squad will play another home game next weekend as they host the Campbellton Tigers on Sunday afternoon (3pm).
ADITIONNAL NOTES
*Two defensemen on the Rapids were the top scorers for their team on Monday: Conor Ryan (1g 1a) and Anton Topilnyckyj (2a) both earned 2 points.
*The Rapids have allowed only 7 goals in total during their four game winning streak.
*Three stars of the game: 1- Adam Lecours (GFR); 2- Patrick Baxter (GFR); 3- Conor Ryan (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| No Scoring | |||
| 2nd | |||
| 1:41 | GFR | Patrick Baxter (17) ASST: Mathis Cyr (14), Oliver Plante (12) | |
| 14:05 | GFR | Bailey Shortall (10) ASST: Brody Pare (9), Conor Ryan (13) | |
| 3rd | |||
| 4:34 | GFR | Vincent Robert (1) ASST: Anton Topilnyckyj (13), Declan Kennedy (4) | |
| 11:20 | GFR | Conor Ryan (4) ASST: Anton Topilnyckyj (14), Jonah Leard (39) | |
| 17:20 | MIR | Charles-Olivier Giguère (14) ASST: Dawson Peverelle (9) | |
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