RAPIDS DEFEAT STEAMERS 4-2
GRAND FALLS – The Grand Falls Rapids put an end to a five-game winless streak on Friday night on home ice, defeating the West Kent Steamers by a score of 4-2 in front of 906 spectators assembled at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
Zackarie Michaud scored his 11th and 12th goals of the season for the Rapids who earned their 14th victory of the season. They now trail the Chaleur Lightning by 1 point for top spot in the Eastlink North division standings.
Adam Lecours was once again the difference-maker between the pipes, blocking a total of 27 shots and earning first star honors. Lecours was particularly strong in the third period when West Kent, trailing by one goal, controlled the play in Rapids’ territory for the first 10 minutes of the period.
After a scoreless first period where the Rapids held a slight 8-7 shots on goal advantage, four goals were scored in the middle frame.
Patrick Baxter gave the Rapids the lead at 3:15, scoring on a backhand shot while on a breakaway. Jack Brown got the lone assist on a great feed to Baxter at center ice.
Jonah Leard made it 2-0 for Grand Falls at the midway point of the second period, scoring on a one-timer in front of the net. It was Leard’s 11th goal of the season.
Natan Grenier scored the Steamers’ first goal at 15:38 off a rebound in front of Adam Lecours, but with 0.1 second remaining following a faceoff win, Zackarie Michaud sent a wrist shot past Steamers’ netminder Victor Régis to give Grand Falls a 3-1 lead through two periods of play.
Zackarie Michaud added his second tally of the contest at 12:40 of the third period on a three-on-two break. Zachary Paulus scored West Kent’s second goal at 15:24, but the Rapids were able to resist and secure the victory.
It was the Rapids’ second win of the campaign against the Steamers after losing their last three decisions to their divisional rivals this season.
The Rapids will try to earn another victory on home ice on Sunday afternoon as they host the Truro Bearcats at 3pm at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
EXTRA NOTES …
*Zackarie Michaud (2g) and Loic Francoeur (2a) both led the Rapids with 2 points.
*No goals were scored by either team on the power play. West Kent were penalized with 5 minors while the Rapids had only 3 minor penalties in the game.
*Three stars of the game: 1- Adam Lecours (GFR); 2- Zackarie Michaud (GFR); 3- Loic Francoeur (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| No Scoring | |||
| 2nd | |||
| 3:15 | GFR | Patrick Baxter (7) ASST: Jack Brown (4) | |
| 10:24 | GFR | Jonah Leard (11) ASST: Loic Francoeur (20), Isaac Allard (9) | |
| 15:38 | WKS | Natan Grenier (10) ASST: Dawson Grandy (3), Cody MacLoon (2) | |
| 19:59 | GFR | Zackarie Michaud (11) ASST: Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (14) | |
| 3rd | |||
| 12:40 | GFR | Zackarie Michaud (12) ASST: Loic Francoeur (21) | |
| 15:24 | WKS | Zachary Paulhus (11) ASST: Noah Larochelle (13) | |