PICTOU COUNTY – Three goals in a span of less than three minutes in the opening period was enough for the Pictou Weeks Crushers on Thursday night, as they defeated the Rapids by a score of 6-3.
Brennan O’Donnell and Kiefer Avery both led the way offensively for Pictou County with 2 goals and 2 assists. Jonah Leard, with his 21stof the season, Patrick Baxter and newcomer Nathan Palmondon-Michaud replied for the Rapids.
It was most definitely a new look lineup for the Rapids as many of the new additions were in uniform for the contest. Médéric Allard, acquired from West Kent on Wednesday, had his first assist as a Rapid when he fed a pass to Jonah Leard on an odd man rush at the mid-way point of the first period. Leard’s shot beat netminder Yianni Karkoulis for his 21st tally of the season.
However, the Weeks Crushers would respond with two goals in 13 seconds. Brennan O’Donnell took advantage of a turnover in Rapids’ territory to tie the score at 10:19 while Kiefer Avery gave his team the lead at 10:32on a tip in front of the net. O’Donnell added his second of the game at 12:43 while the Weeks Crushers were playing shorthanded.
Pictou County held a 3-1 lead through twenty minutes of play.
The Weeks Crushers added three goals in the middle frame from Kiefer Avery, his second of the contest, Alex Christmas and Lucas Cannings’ 32nd of the season which was scored on the power play.
After two periods of play, the Weeks Crushers were ahead 6-1.
The Rapids scored twice in the final frame. Patrick Baxter completed a nifty move in front of the net for his 6th of the season while Nathan Plamondon-Michaud scored his first goal as a Rapid with a wrister from the slot on a pass from Brayden Campbell. It was Plamondon-Michaud’s 13th tally of the season.
Rapids’ netminder Loic Nadeau faced a total of 35 shots. Grand Falls sent 30 shots on goal.
A total of 96 penalty minutes were called in a game that became very physical at times.
The Rapids return to action on Friday night as they travel to Truro before finishing the weekend in Fredericton on Sunday afternoon.
*3 STARS OF THE GAME:
1- Brennan O’Donnell (PCC); 2- Kiefer Avery(PCC); 3- Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
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1st |
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10:03 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (21) ASST: Médéric Allard (7) |
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10:19 |
PCC |
Brennan O’Donnell (2) ASST: Kiefer Avery (24), Alex Christmas (11) |
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10:32 |
PCC |
Kiefer Avery (11) ASST: Kingsley Austin (12) |
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12:43 |
PCC |
Brennan O’Donnell (3) ASST: Carter Murchison (11) (SH) |
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2nd |
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9:42 |
PCC |
Kiefer Avery (12) ASST: Alex Christmas (12), Brennan O’Donnell (6) |
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13:50 |
PCC |
Alex Christmas (7) ASST: Brennan O’Donnell (7) |
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17:33 |
PCC |
Lucas Canning (32) ASST: Kiefer Avery (25) (PP) |
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3rd |
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11:06 |
GFR |
Patrick Baxter (6) ASST: Will Morrison (13) |
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17:53 |
GFR |
Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (13) ASST: Brayden Campbell (13) |
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