MIRAMICHI – The Miramichi Timberwolves scored twice in the opening period and never relinquished the lead, defeating the Grand Falls Rapids by a score of 5-2 Saturday night at the Miramichi Civic Centre.
It was the Rapids’ 5th consecutive loss while the Timberwolves won their 17th game of the season and hold on to 4th place in the Eastlink North division standings.
Five different players found the back of the net for Miramichi. It was an ex-Timberwolves, Devin Johnson, who got both Rapids’ goals, both scored following a faceoff win in opposing territory.
Ludovic Dufort gave the Timberwolves the lead in the first period following a give-away in the Rapids’ zone. His wrist shot beat netminder Adam Lecours on the blocker side, an unassisted tally coming at 12:19.
Then at 13:52, Will Allen’s shot from the side of the net found its way in, giving Miramichi a 2-0 lead.
Devin Johnson got the Rapids on the board at 14:36 of the second period, following a faceoff win by Jérémy Boulanger. Johnson’s wrist shot from the point beat Timberwolves’ goalkeeper Jack Flanagan.
However, Miramichi would respond at 15:46 with a shorthanded goal scored by Jérémy Duhamel, coming on an odd-man rush. It was Miramichi’s 8th shorthanded tally this season.
Then Devin Johnson would score another goal on a faceoff win, once again from Jérémy Boulanger at 19:13 of the period to bring the score to 3-2. It was Johnson’s first two goals with the Rapids.
The Timberwolves dominated the third period, scoring twice while sending 15 shots on net againt 5 for the Rapids.
Jayden Burtt-Munn scored his first goal of the season at 7:46 while following his own rebound in front of the net. Hugo Audette would add the 5th Miramichi goal on a breakaway with less than 4 minutes remaining in the contest.
The Timberwolves sent 36 shots on goal while Grand Falls had 20 in total.
It was Miramichi’s third win this season against the Rapids in five games.
The Rapids will play their next game on home ice as they host the Fredericton Red Wings on Friday night (7pm) at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
GAME NOTES:
*Three Timberwolves’ players finished the game with 1g and 1a: Ludovic Dufort, Will Allen and Jérémy Duhamel.
Devin Johnson (2g) and Jérémy Boulanger (2a) led the way offensively for the Rapids.
*Grand Falls went 0 for 5 on the power play while Miramichi was also scoreless in 2 PP opportunities.
*Game attendance: 929
*Three stars of the game: 1- Will Allen (MIR); 2- Devin Johnson (GFR); 3- Jayden Burtt-Munn (MIR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
1st
12:19 MIR Ludovic Dufort (26) ASST: None
13:52 MIR Will Allen (22) ASST: Travis Badcock (17), Jeremy Duhamel (22)
2nd
14:36 GFR Devin Johnson (2) ASST: Jeremy Boulanger (21)
15:46 MIR Jeremy Duhamel (11) ASST: Will Allen (18), Nolan Ryan (5) (SH)
19:13 GFR Devin Johnson (3) ASST: Jeremy Boulanger (22)
3rd
7:46 MIR Jayden Burtt-Munn (1) ASST: Damian Metastasio (4), Mitchell Wagner (13)
16:21 MIR Hugo Audette (9) ASST: Ludovic Dufort (17), Cole Foston (10)