TRURO – Jonah Leard’s overtime tally completed a great third period comeback by the Rapids as they went on to a 3-2 victory over the Truro Bearcats Saturday night in Nova Scotia.
The win put an end to a 6-game losing streak for Grand Falls and at the same time, ended the Bearcats’ 6-game winning streak.
Despite stormy conditions outside the arena, the game was played at a high energy level, showcased by a goaltending duel between Adam Lecours of the Rapids and Frederic Cousineau of the Bearcats.
Each team sent 33 shots on goal in the game.
Down by two goals in the third period with nothing to show for following some great scoring chances, the Rapids came back to tie the game. They showed great caracter and kept battling, getting numerous opportunities to get on the board, but could not solve the Bearcats’ netminder.
The comeback started with Brayden Campbell’s tally at 12:34 following a giveaway in Bearcats’ territory. Campbell’s low shot beat the goalie on the stick side for his 2nd of the season, bringing the Rapids to within one goal.
The tying goal came with under 3 minutes remaining in regulation time when Nicholas Brennan sent a wrist shot after crossing the blue line, beating Cousineau on the glove side. Brennans’s 8th of the season knotted the score at 2-2, sending the game into overtime.
The overtime winner was scored at 2:49. Defenseman Raphaël Denis carried the puck into Truro territory and delivered a great pass in front of the net to Leard who finally put an end to Grand Falls’ losing skid. It was Leard’s 10th goal of the season and his first winning tally of the campaign.
The Bearcats held a 2-0 lead after two periods of play, scoring twice in the opening frame. Alex Roode, with his 25th of the season, put Truro ahead at 7:07. Then Lucas Canning sent a hard shot past Adam Lecours at 9:43, scoring his 27th goal of the season and giving his team a 2-0 edge.
It was the Rapids’ 10th victory of the season as they now total 23 points in the standings. They are 8 points back of the Campbellton Tigers for 5th spot in the Eastlink North division standings.
The Rapids will return to action Sunday night as they complete their Nova Scotia road trip by meeting the Pictou County Weeks Crushers. Puck drop is at 7pm.
GAME NOTES:
*It was a second overtime victory for the Rapids this season in as many games.
*Marcellus Francis made a return to the lineup on Saturday night following an injury which occurred in a game against the Edmundston Blizzard. However, captain Jeremy Boulanger was not in the lineup on Saturday following a hit from behind against the same Blizzard squad.
*Zach Welsh of the Bearcats was the only player on both sides to register more than 1 point in the game; Welsh finished the game with 2 assists.
*Truro went 1 for 1 on the power play while Grand Falls was scoreless in 2 PP opportunities.
*Game attendance: 426
*Three stars of the game: 1- Jonah Leard (GFR); 2- Adam Lecours (GFR); 3- Frederic Cousineau (TRU)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
1st
7:07 TRU Alex Roode (25) ASST: Sam Archibald (18), Zach Welsh (24)
9:43 TRU Lucas Canning (27) ASST: Merle Putnam (14), Zach Welsh (25) (PP)
2nd
No Scoring
3rd
12:34 GFR Brayden Campbell (2) ASST: Will Morrison (12), Damian Metastasio (8)
17:09 GFR Nicholas Brennan (8) ASST: Ty Hunter (11)
1st OT
2:49 GFR Jonah Leard (10) ASST: Raphael Denis (15), Ethan Johnson (22)