RAPIDS CLINCH A PLAYOFF SPOT!

CAMPBELLTON – For the first time in eight seasons since their arrival in Grand Falls, the Rapids have clinched a playoff spot with a 5-1 victory Friday night in Campbellton. The Rapids now have a total of 54 points in the standings with only 7 games remaining to their regular season schedule.

Coen Miller led the charge offensively with a hat trick, scoring his 23rd, 24th and 25th goals of the season. Captain Jonah Leard also had a strong game with 3 assists.
Grand Falls scored four times in the third period, breaking a 1-1 tie.

Realizing that a playoff trip was up for grabs, Greg Leland’s squad played a sound defensive game while getting some good goaltending from Jérémy Thibodeau-Soucy who made 29 saves to earn his 5th victory of the season.
The final tally in shots on goal was 41 to 30 in favor of the Rapids.

Coen Miller started his night by scoring the game’s first goal at 11:27 of the opening period while his team was playing with the man advantage. His one-timer from the point beat Tigers’ netminder Samuel Quimper to give Grand Falls a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers, who played their best hockey in the second period, tied the score at 17:09 of the middle frame on a wrist shot from Jacob Singer.

The Rapids exploded with four goals in the third period on 16 shots on net. The winning tally was scored at the 3-minute mark on a two-on-one break when Oliver Plante fed a pass to defenseman Anton Topilnyckyj who scored his 4th goal of the season. Then at 9:18, Coen Miller tallied his second of the game, also on a two-on-one rush.
Patrick Baxter would add Grand Falls’ fourth goal at 11:22 with a wrist shot from the faceoff dot. And at 13:52, Coen Miller completed his hat trick after receiving a pass from Jonah Leard in front of the Tigers’ net to bring the final score to 5-1.

It was also the Rapids third consecutive victory as their record now stands at 24-15-6. Their next game will be played on home ice as they host on Monday (Family Day) the Miramichi Timberwolves. Puck drop is at 3pm at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
ADITIONNAL NOTES

*Coen Miller (3g) and Jonah Leard (3a) both led the way offensively for the Rapids. Three players finished the game with two points: Anton Topilnyckyj (1g 1a), Patrick Baxter (1g 1a) and Loic Francoeur (2a).
*The last minute of the contest was marred by a couple of fights which could result in players being suspended on both sides.
*Three stars of the game: 1- Coen Miller (GFR); 2- Anton Topilnyckyj (GFR); 3- Samuel Quimper (CAM)

Patrick Thibault

Scoring
1st
11:27 GFR Coen Miller (23) ASST: Jonah Leard (36), Anton Topilnyckyj (12) (PP)

2nd
17:09 CAM Jacob Singer (2) ASST: Alex Lavoie (9)

3rd
3:05 GFR Anton Topilnyckyj (4) ASST: Oliver Plante (11), Patrick Baxter (13)

9:18 GFR Coen Miller (24) ASST: Jonah Leard (37), Loic Francoeur (33)

11:22 GFR Patrick Baxter (16) ASST: Dereck Asselin (12), Nathan Dubreuil (6)

13:52 GFR Coen Miller (25) ASST: Jonah Leard (38), Loic Francoeur (34)