EDMUNDSTON – The Edmundston Blizzard won their league-leading 28th game of the season Friday night on home ice, defeating the Grand Falls Rapids by a score of 6-3 in front of a crowd of over 2500 spectators reunited at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
The game was actually closer than the final score indicates. The Rapids never trailed more than by two scores until the Blizzard added two quick unanswered goals at the 13-minute mark of the third period.
Six different Blizzard players found the back of the net in this contest while Damian Metastasio, Cole MacWilliam and Nicholas Brennan scored in order for the visitors.
After Jeremy Fortin gave Edmundston a 1-0 lead at 5:53 of the opening frame, Damian Metastasio tied the score for the Rapids following a rebound in front of the net. His backhanded tally came at 9:59.
The Blizzard regained the lead at 4:52 of the second period on a one-timer in front of the Rapids’ crease by Noah Matulu which came on a pass from Felix Bedard.
Philippe Collette gave Edmundston a two-goal lead at 7:41 on a wrister from the slot, beating Rapids’ netminder Will Hodgson on the stick side.
But before the period ended, Cole MacWilliam scored Grand Falls’ second goal on a two-one one rush into opposing territory. The goal came following a penalty kill by the Rapids as MacWilliam’s shot beat goaltender Nicholas Sheehan on the glove side at 14:34.
Some players from both teams had things to settle, resulting from last Friday’s contest in Grand Falls. Major penalties were assessed, and the Blizzard came up on the short side of those calls as they ended the period and started the final frame playing with a two-man disadvantage.
This might have been the turning point of the game as the Rapids were unable to capitalize on the 5 on 3 advantage at the beginning of the third period. The Blizzard followed thereafter with a power play tally at 4:57 on Ben Wallace’s first of the season.
The Rapids did not quit however as they came back to reduce the margin to one goal at 9:57 when Nicholas Brennan took control of his own rebound in front of the net, scoring his 7th of the season to bring the score to 4-3.
The Blizzard would then add two quick goals in a span of only 16 seconds, both scored by defensemen. Alexis Jacques brought the score to 5-3 at 13:31 while Mathieu Boucher, after splitting between two defensemen, added his team’s 6th tally of the night on a wrist shot over the glove hand of Hodgson.
Edmundston held a slight domination in the shots on goal department (29 to 24).
It was the Rapids’ fourth consecutive loss as they now find themselves 6 points behind the Campbellton Tigers for 5th spot in the Eastlink North standings.
Grand Falls travels to Campbellton on Sunday to play the Tigers. Puck drop is at 4 pm.
GAME NOTES:
*Felix Bedard had a 3-point night for the Blizzard with 3 assists. Noah Matulu and Jeremy Fortin both ended the game with identical records of 1g 1a.
No players for the Rapids had more than 1 point to their credit.
*The Rapids went 1 for 6 on the power play while Edmundston was scoreless in only 2 PP opportunities.
*Game attendance: 2582
*Three stars of the game: 1- Felix Bedard (EDM); 2- Jeremy Fortin (EDM); 3- Alexis Jacques (EDM)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
1st
5:53 EDM Jérémy Fortin (21) ASST: Felix Bedard (41), Anastasios Lazaris (9)
9:59 GFR Damian Metastasio (5) ASST: Jonah Leard (7), Ethan Johnson (20) (PP)
2nd
4:52 EDM Noah Matulu (5) ASST: Felix Bedard (42)
7:41 EDM Philippe Collette (22) ASST: Jérémy Fortin (21), Felix Bedard (43)
14:34 GFR Cole MacWilliam (6) ASST: Raphael Denis (14)
3rd
4:57 EDM Ben Wallace (5) ASST: Jeremy Ste-Marie (16), Noah Matulu (8)
9:57 GFR Nicholas Brennan (7) ASST: Jeremy Boulanger (26), Ty Hunter (7)
13:31 EDM Alexis Jacques (8) ASST: None
13:47 EDM Mathieu Boucher (3) ASST: Peter Amanatidis (17), Anastasios Lazaris (10)