News

RAPIDS DEFEAT CHALEUR 6-5 FOR EIGHTH STRAIGHT VICTORY

GRAND FALLS – Loïc Francoeur’s power play goal, scored at 3:25 of the third period, broke a 5-5 tie and guided the Grand Falls Rapids to a 6-5 victory over the Chaleur Lightning Friday night at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre. It was the Rapids 8th consecutive victory as they kept pace with the Edmundston Blizzard atop the Eastlink North division standings. Both teams are tied with 64 points with only two games remaining to their regular season schedule.

Francoeur also scored the tying goal for Grand Falls early in the final frame. After taking a 4-1 lead through twenty minutes of play, it all fell apart for the Rapids in the second period as they saw the Lightning rebound with four unanswered goals to go ahead 5-4.

Chaleur took a quick 1-0 lead in the game (at 56 seconds of play) following a power play goal from Jack Hayne. However, the Rapids replied with four goals.

Jonah Leard, with his 20th tally of the season, tied the game shortly after the Lightning’ go-ahead goal on a tip in front of the net. Nathan Plamondon-Michaud, on the power play, gave the Rapids the lead at 7:45 with a one-timer from the slot. Leard added his second goal of the game at the 14-minute mark on a rebound in front of the crease. Then it was Plamondon-Michaud’s turn to add his second of the contest with the man advantage on a tip in front of the net at 16:55, chasing starting netminder Jack Flanagan from the game.
The Rapids held an 11-8 advantage in shots on goal through twenty minutes of play.

The second period was a tough one for the Rapids as they played many minutes shorthanded while being outshot 23 to 3. Chaleur, who also played a more physical game coming into the second period, scored four unanswered goals with the first three coming before the midway point of the period. Sam Rocca, Carter Bromley, Ben Cross and Zachary Rushton (power play) all scored for the Lightning who took a 5-4 lead heading into the third period.

Loïc Francoeur’s tying goal was scored at 2:17 of the third period on a wrist shot that beat goaltender George Foti. Then his game-winning tally came with the man advantage as he found an open net, scoring his 22nd of the season and his third game winning goal of the 2025-2026 campaign.

Adam Lecours stopped 32 shots, earning his 23rd victory of the season between the pipes.
Chaleur had the advantage in the shots on goal department, 37 to 26.

The Rapids will play their last two games of the regular season next weekend as they host next Friday the Miramichi Timberwolves before heading to Bouctouche to play the West Kent Steamers on Sunday (March 8th).

ADITIONNAL NOTES

*Loïc Francoeur and Jonah Leard both finished the game with identical record of 2 goals and 2 assists. Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (2g 1a) also contributed offensively for Grand Falls.

*The Rapids scored three times on the power play while Chaleur found the back of the net on two occasions with the man advantage.

*Attendance at the game: 1029 spectators.

*Three stars of the game: 1- Loïc Francoeur (GFR); 2- Zachary Rushton (CHA); Jonah Leard (GFR)

Patrick Thibault

 

Scoring

1st
0:56 CHA Jack Hayne (23) ASST: Zachary Rushton (36), Cohen McCallum (30) (PP)
1:31 GFR Jonah Leard (20) ASST: Coen Miller (35), Bailey Shortall (14)
7:45 GFR Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (24) ASST: Loic Francoeur (35), Anton Topilnyckyj (16) (PP)
14:24 GFR Jonah Leard (21) ASST: Mathis Cyr (16)
16:55 GFR Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (25) ASST: Loic Francoeur (36) (PP)
2nd
4:47 CHA Sam Rocca (9) ASST: Will Clark (8), William Cossette (6)
8:10 CHA Carter Bromley (22) ASST: Sam Rocca (11), Will Carroll (6)
9:57 CHA Ben Cross (38) ASST: Jack Hayne (37), Owen Arnold (14)
12:07 CHA Zachary Rushton (22) ASST: Carter Bromley (29), Cohen McCallum (31) (PP)
3rd
2:17 GFR Loic Francoeur (21) ASST: Jonah Leard (41), Nathan Dubreuil (9)
3:25 GFR Loic Francoeur (22) ASST: Jonah Leard (42), Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (25) (PP)

 

 

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