RAPIDS DEFEAT MIRAMICHI 4-2

MIRAMICHI – Max Chisholm scored twice while Gio DiMattia stopped 32 shots as the Rapids defeated the Miramichi Timberwolves by a score of 4-2 on Wednesday night.

Grand Falls scored three power play goals in the contest, including both of Chisholm’s tallies in the first and third periods. Dominic Leblanc scored his 10^th of the season for the Rapids while Drew Johnston, with his 3^rd of the campaign, completed the scoring.

The victory gives Grand Falls a 3-point cushion over Miramichi in the Eastlink North division standings. However, the Rapids remain 5 points behind the Fredericton Red Wings and the Campbellton Tigers for the 4^th spot in the division.

The Rapids, who win for a second consecutive game over the Timberwolves, played a solid game defensively. Even though they fell into penalty trouble in the second period, netminder Gio DiMattia shut the door, leaving no room for the Timberwolves to gain any momentum whatsoever.

The performance on the power play is a good sign of things to come for Nick Tremere’s squad as Grand Falls had only scored 7 PP goals in total before Wednesday’s contest.

The Rapids power play actually got going early as the Timberwolves were penalized on three occasions in the opening period. Drew Johnston opened the scoring at 9:37, sending a wrist shot from a tough angle into the far corner of the net. It was Johnston’s 3^rd of the season since his return to the lineup after missing the Rapids’ first 9 games of the season.

Then at 12:22, Max Chisholm took control of a rebound in front of goaltender Kevyn Brassard, scoring also with the man advantage to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

The Rapids dominated the opening period in shots on goal, 14 to 9.

The Rapids jumped to a 3-0 lead in the second on Dominic Leblanc’s 10^th goal of the season. Leblanc surprised Brassard with a quick shot to the short side at 3:56 of the middle frame.

Grand Falls got into penalty trouble in the second half of the period, but netminder Gio DiMattia was sensational as he made some spectacular saves to keep the Timberwolves off the board.

Miramichi sent 14 shots on goal in the period in comparison to 9 for Grand Falls.

Max Chisholm added the fourth unanswered goal for the Rapids at 5.00 of the third period, the second power play tally for Chisholm in the game.

As Gio DiMattia was working on a shutout, the Timberwolves had other plans as they finally found the back of the net on Kobe Gosling’s shot from the point that went through heavy traffic in front of DiMattia.

The Timberwolves added their second goal with only 9 seconds remaining on Jacob Santerre’s 16^th of the season.

Miramichi came out on top in shots on goal (34-30) but it was the Rapids who skated away with the very important 4-2 victory.

The Rapids return to action on Thursday night as they will clash with their Northwestern rivals, the Edmundston Blizzard. Puck drop is at 7:30 pm at the Jean-Daigle Centre.

Patrick Thibault

GAME NOTES:

*The Rapids record now stands at 6 wins and 7 losses for 12 points. They have won 4 of their last 5 games and two in a row over Miramichi, which enables them to add to their lead over the Timberwolves in the standings.

*Three Rapids’ players had a 2-point game on Wednesday night: Max Chisholm had 2 goals while Dominic Leblanc and Drew Johnston both had 1g and 1a.

*Gio DiMattia picked up his 6^th victory between the pipes for the Rapids. His goals against average for the season now stands at 3.40.

*Three stars of the game: 1- Drew Johnston (GFR); 2- Dominic Leblanc (GFR); 3- Max Chisholm (GFR)

*Game attendance: 511 spectators

Scoring

1st
9:37	GFR	Drew Johnston (3) ASST: Dominic Leblanc (9), Keegan Hunt (2) (PP)
12:22	GFR	Max Chisholm (2) ASST: Adam Fowlow (5), Zac Arsenault (9) (PP)
2nd
3:56	GFR	Dominic Leblanc (10) ASST: Drew Johnston (2), Joachim Matulu (1)
3rd
5:00	GFR	Max Chisholm (3) ASST: Jeremie Gagnon (4) (PP)
12:50	MIR	Kobe Gosling (1) ASST: Dylan Matthews (4), Travis Badcock (5)
19:51	MIR	Jacob Santerre (16) ASST: Jeremie Jacob (14), Mason Beck (14)