RAPIDS ARE DEFEATED 4-3 IN MIRAMICHI

MIRAMICHI – The Grand Falls Rapids were handed their third consecutive loss on Saturday night as the Miramichi Timberwolves skated away with a 4-3 victory on home ice.
The Rapids’ record now stands at 6-3-1 and they remain in third spot in the Eastlink North division standings with 13 points.

Both teams found the back of the net on two occasions in the opening period. The Timberwolves were first on the scoreboard at 4:36 on a goal from Thatcher Hughes following a rebound in front of Rapids’ goalkeeper Jeremy Thibodeau-Soucy.
Zackarie Michaud’ wrist shot from the faceoff circle tied the score for Grand Falls at 7:31, which came on the power play. It was Michaud’s 4th of the season.
Harlan Eustace gave Miramichi a 2-1 lead at 10:24, but not before the Rapids would tie the score again on Anton Topilnyckyi’s first goal of the season following a scramble in front of the net.
The Timberwolves held a slight advantage in shots on goal after twenty minutes of play, 11 to 10.

The middle frame saw a domination from the Timberwolves as they outshot the Rapids 14 to 4 while scoring twice.
Eliott Robert took advantage of a 5 on 3 power play to give his team a 3-2 lead. Then with less than 3 minutes left in the period, Dawson Peverelle scored on a breakaway to double Miramichi’s lead.
The Rapids were penalized on three straight occasions in the frame, which kept them from creating any sustained offense into the opposing zone.

It was the Timberwolves’ turn to get into penalty trouble in the third period, and the Rapids did cash in on the power play, scoring at 18:10 to cut Miramichi’s lead to 4-3. Loic Francoeur was the recipient of the goal on a one-timer. Grand Falls was unable however to tie the score before the end of regulation.

Mathis Lafontaine registered the win between the pipes as he faced a total of 28 shots. Miramichi sent 30 shots on Rapids’ netminder Jeremy Thibodeau-Soucy.
The Rapids return to home ice on Sunday afternoon as they host the Yarmouth Mariners (3pm).

EXTRA NOTES …

*Eliott Robert and Harlan Eustace both led the way offensively for Miramichi with identical records of 1g 2a.
Zackarie Michaud was the Rapids’ leading scorer with a performance of 1g 1a.

*Harlan Eustace received first star honors while Dawson Peverelle and Eliott Robert, also from Miramichi, were named respectively second and third stars.

*The Rapids will try to break a three-game skid on Sunday while aiming to remain undefeated on home ice this season.

Patrick Thibault

Scoring
1st
4:36 MIR Thatcher Hughes (7) ASST: Eliott Robert (6), Harlan Eustace (5)

7:31 GFR Zackarie Michaud (4) ASST: Oliver Plante (4), Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (5) (PP)

10:24 MIR Harlan Eustace (2) ASST: Cameron LeBlanc (2), Eliott Robert (7)

14:21 GFR Anton Topilnyckyj (1) ASST: None

2nd
11:05 MIR Eliott Robert (3) ASST: Alexis Doucet (6) (PP)

17:40 MIR Dawson Peverelle (2) ASST: Harlan Eustace (6)

3rd
18:10 GFR Loic Francoeur (4) ASST: Zackarie Michaud (8), Mathis Cyr (4) (PP)