LECOURS SHINES, BUT RAPIDS FALL 3-1

BATHURST – Despite an outstanding performance from goaltender Adam Lecours, the Grand Falls Rapids were defeated 3-1 Friday night in Bathurst and will now face elimination in their best-of-seven MetalFab quarter final series.

Tyson Snow scored with less than 3 minutes remaining in regulation time to give the Chaleur Lightning the victory and a 3-1 stranglehold in the series.

Shots on goal were totally in favor of the Lightning, 50 to 18. Lecours was by far the star of this contest, making save after save and keeping his team in the game until the very end. Snow’s winning goal, on a shot to the short side, came on a pass from behind the net from Carter Bromley at 17:02 of the third period. Ben Cross added the insurance goal in an empty net with 28 seconds remaining.

It was a tough game for the Rapids on the offensive side, but they did play a disciplined game despite giving up a power play goal in the middle frame.

The Lightning came out strong out of the gate, dominating Grand Falls 23 to 4 in the shots on goal department in the first period.

The Rapids played a much better second period, sending 9 shots on net and scoring the game’s first goal at the 6-minute mark. Patrick Baxter went on a breakaway, but netminder Jack Flanagan made the initial save. Baxter followed the play with his own rebound, giving the Rapids a 1-0 lead.

Chaleur would tie the game on a power play at 15:17 on a shot from Carter Bromley that went off the stick of a Rapids player in front of the net.

With the game tied 1-1 heading to the third period, it became a bit more physical as both teams tried to get advantage of loose pucks while preventing the opponent from getting close to the net.

The tie held until the 17-minute mark when Tyson Snow, with his first goal of the series, put the Lightning ahead for good.

Game five shifts to Grand Falls on Sunday night. Puck drop is at 7:30 pm at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre. The Rapids will try to stay alive, forcing a sixth game.

 

ADITIONNAL NOTES

*Only 5 minor penalties were called in the game: three went to Grand Falls and two to Chaleur.

*Tyson Snow, Carter Bromley and Ben Cross all ended the game with identical records of 1 goal and 1 assist for the Lightning.

 

*Chaleur’s power play tally was the 7th scored in this series. The Rapids have scored 3 times with the man advantage thus far.

 

*Three stars of the game: 1- Tyson Snow (CHA); 2- Adam Lecours (GFR); 3- Jack Hayne (CHA)

 

Patrick Thibault

 

Scoring

1st
No Scoring
2nd
6:09	GFR	Patrick Baxter (1) ASST: Conor Ryan (2)
15:17	CHA	Carter Bromley (3) ASST: Ben Cross (3), Cohen McCallum (6) (PP)
3rd
17:02	CHA	Tyson Snow (1) ASST: Carter Bromley (5), Easton Adrian (1)
19:32	CHA	Ben Cross (3) ASST: Jack Hayne (5), Tyson Snow (2) (EN)