MARINERS DEFEAT RAPIDS 3-2
YARMOUTH (NS) – Reilly Mayne scored his second goal of the game with less than two minutes remaining in regulation time, giving the Yarmouth Mariners a 3-2 victory over the Grand Falls Rapids on Friday night.
It was a 5th consecutive loss for Grand Falls who now fall to 4 games under the .500 mark this season.
The Rapids had tied the score at 11:06 of the third on Jonathan Cormier’s one-timer following a beautiful cross-ice pass from teammate Adam Fowlow.
Grand Falls had their best showing in the third period as they dominated their opponents 9 to 8 in shots on goal. Despite spending some precious time in the penalty box, the defensive corps performed to its potential. It was however a power play goal that enabled the home team to grab a 2-1 lead at the 3-minute mark. It was however a controversial call on the ice as it appeared that the puck was kicked in intentionally by Reilly Mayne who was credited with his first goal of the game.
Gio DiMattia, who was making a second consecutive start between the pipes for Grand Falls, stopped 26 of the 29 shots he faced. He kept his team in the game at crucial moments, notably during a two-man disadvantage in the middle frame.
It was a very tight checking an evenly matched first period as shots on goal were even at 7-7.
The Rapids’ penalty kill was still able to hold off their opponents on the score sheet with the man advantage, but the Mariners did score the only goal of the period at even strength. Taking control of a rebound in the crease, Sam Gillis tallied his second goal of the season at 6:35 to give his team a 1-0 lead through twenty minutes of play.
Nick Tremere’s squad had a much better second period offensively, getting opportunities around the opposing net, even though they were outshot 14 to 9 in the period. The Rapids finally ended a scoreless streak that had lasted 8 periods, tying the game at 6:22 on Kyle Foreman’s second of the season. The Grand Falls captain was able to lift the puck over netminder Christope Beluse as he was standing in the crease.
The Rapids played with fire close to the mid way point of the period as they sent two men to the penalty box, giving their opponents a 5 on 3 man-advantage for 1:04. Gio DiMattia came our strong once again as the Mariners were kept scoreless.
Kyle Foreman came close to scoring his second of the game with under one minute left as he came in alone on the Yarmouth netminder, but he was denied his second goal of the game.
Both teams got on the board in the third before Reilly Mayne’s game winning goal was scored at 18:46. Mayne’s shot found its way beneath the pads of DiMattia as the Mariners registered their 5th win of the season.
The Rapids will be back on home ice for two games next weekend. On Friday night, they will host their North Western rivals, the Edmundston Blizzard, for a 7:30 start at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre. Then on Sunday afternoon, the Rapids will face off with the Campbellton Tigers for the first time this season. Puck drop is at 3 pm.
Patrick Thibault
GAME NOTES:
*Reilly Mayne (2 goals) and Sam Gillis (1g 1a) were the only players on both sides to register two points to their record on Friday night.
*Three stars of the game: 1- Reilly Mayne (YAR); 2- Sam Gillis (YAR); 3- Adam Fowlow (GFR)
*Game attendance: 791 spectators
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 6:35 | YAR | Sam Gillis (2) ASST: Michael McQuaid (6), Kurtis Lang (7) | |
| 2nd | |||
| 6:22 | GFR | Kyle Foreman (2) ASST: None | |
| 3rd | |||
| 3:36 | YAR | Reilly Mayne (9) ASST: Sam Gillis (10), Ben Roode (5) (PP) | |
| 11:06 | GFR | Jonathan Cormier (1) ASST: Adam Fowlow (2) | |
| 18:46 | YAR | Reilly Mayne (10) ASST: Reid Vos (3), Ben Charles (3) |