GRAND FALLS – Coen Strang scored with less than 5 minutes to play in the third period, breaking a 1-1 tie and sending the visiting Amherst Ramblers to a 2-1 victory over Rapids in a Sunday afternoon matchup at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
It was a 6th consecutive loss for the Rapids who remain in 6th spot in the Eastlink North standings, 4 points behind the Campbellton Tigers who hold the 5th position in the division.
Scoring has been difficult lately for the Rapids who have registered only 5 goals during their last four starts. They currently are last in the league in goals scored with 71 goals in 24 games played.
Acquired via trade late last week, Will Hodgson made his first start between the pipes for Grand Falls. He was excellent in his debut, stopping 23 shots.
Ramblers’ netminder Jack Howatt was even better, giving up only one goal on 38 shots.
After a scoreless first period, both teams got on the board in the middle frame.
Cooper Cormier took control of a rebound in front of the Rapids’ net after the original shot from the point hit the crossbar. For Cormier, it was his 8th tally of the season, coming at 3:45.
The Rapids answered back later in the period on a great individual effort from Dominic LeBlanc who set up Luc Ruff in the slot. However, Jack Howatt made the save, but Jeremy Boulanger took control of the rebound, tying the score at 1-1. Boulanger’s 5th of the campaign was scored at 18:44.
After two periods of play, Grand Falls led 30 to 18 in the shots on goal department.
Only 16 shots were registered in the final frame as the Rapids had a slight edge (9-7). Coen Strang, with his 7th of the season, scored the game winning goal for Amherst at 16:43 as he came in alone on Hodgson. Christian Reardon was the one who made the original pass from the Rapids’ blue line.
The Rapids led the game in shots on goal, 39 to 25. They will play their next game on Thursday night in Edmundston (7:30 pm) at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
GAME NOTES:
*The Rapids went 0 for 5 on the power play while Amherst was also scoreless, going 0 for 2 with the man advantage.
*Game attendance: 797
*Three stars of the game: 1- Coen Strang (AMH); 2- Jack Howatt (AMH); 3- Will Hodgson (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
1st
No Scoring
2nd
3:45 AMH Cooper Cormier (8) ASST: Owen Aura (6), Charles-Antoine Lavallee (11)
18:44 GFR Jeremy Boulanger (5) ASST: Luc Ruff (2)
3rd
16:43 AMH Coen Strang (7) ASST: Liam Dutcher (13), Christian Reardon (13)