RAPIDS DEFEAT TIGERS IN OVERTIME
GRAND FALLS – It wasn’t the prettiest of games played by the Rapids this season, but they still found a way to get into the win column with an important 6-5 overtime victory on Wednesday night against the Campbellton Tigers.
Coen Miller scored the game winning goal with under one minute remaining in the overtime frame, giving Grand Falls its 20th victory of the season, which is one win away from the franchise record set in 2022-2023.
The Rapids came back from a 5-3 deficit with less than 7 minutes remaining in regulation time. Bailey Shortall, with his first goal as a Rapid, tied the score at 18:41 of the third period. Grand Falls largely dominated their opponents in the shots on goal department, 50 to 21.
The Tigers started the game by scoring twice before the 4-minute mark of the opening period. Adam Véronneau gave the visitors the lead with a breakaway goal at 2:11, followed by Logan Mallaley’s tally on a two-on-one break.
The Rapids got on the scoreboard mid-way in the period when Nathan Plamondon-Michaud was able to get through two defensemen before sending a shot to the top corner of the net for his 19th goal of the season. Then with only 34 seconds remaining in the period, Patrick Baxter took possession of the puck at his own blue line, getting by a defenseman and tying the contest. It was Baxter’s 11th of the season.
Anton Topilnyckyj’s shot from the blue line found the back of the net at 3:06 of the middle frame, giving the Rapids a 3-2 lead. But only 34 seconds later, Alex Lavoie tied the score and at 4:51, Victor Lanoue gave Campbellton the lead 4-3.
The Tigers added a 5th goal at 2:54 of the third period courtesy of Xavier Guillemette. But Declan Kennedy reduced the margin for Grand Falls at 13:41 before Bailey Shortall’s tying goal with less than two minutes remaining on a wrister from the slot.
The Rapids’ winning goal came on an odd man rush with Jonah Leard serving a perfect pass in front of the net to Coen Miller who scored his 21st of the season and his 5th winning goal (2nd with the Rapids).
Jérémy Thibodeau-Soucy started the game in net for the Rapids, but Adam Lecours came in relief, playing the last 39 minutes to earn his 18th victory of the season between the pipes.
Samuel Quimper was the Tigers’ goalkeeper, making a total of 44 saves.
The Rapids return to action on Saturday night as they visit the Chaleur Lightning for a 7pm start at the KC Irving Regional Centre in Bathurst.
EXTRA NOTES
*Coen Miller, Declan Kennedy and defenseman Anton Topilnyckyj all finished the game with 1g 1a for the Rapids while captain Jonah Learn earned 2 assists. Adam Véronneau, Victor Lanoue and Xavier Guillemette all had records of 1g 1a for Campbellton.
*Both teams went scoreless on the power play: CAM 0 for 2 and GFR 0 for 4.
*Three stars of the game: 1- Coen Miller (GFR); 2- Declan Kennedy (GFR); 3- Victor Lanoue (CAM)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 2:11 | CAM | Adam Véronneau (18) ASST: Xavier Guillemette (2) | |
| 3:25 | CAM | Logan Mallaley (9) ASST: Victor Lanoue (19), Luke Orr (16) | |
| 10:23 | GFR | Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (19) ASST: Loic Francoeur (26), Mathis Cyr (12) | |
| 19:26 | GFR | Patrick Baxter (11) ASST: None | |
| 2nd | |||
| 3:06 | GFR | Anton Topilnyckyj (3) ASST: Dereck Asselin (10), Declan Kennedy (3) | |
| 3:40 | CAM | Alex Lavoie (10) ASST: Alexi Parent (13) | |
| 4:51 | CAM | Victor Lanoue (9) ASST: Samuel Ouellet (6) | |
| 3rd | |||
| 2:54 | CAM | Xavier Guillemette (2) ASST: Adam Véronneau (9) | |
| 13:41 | GFR | Declan Kennedy (6) ASST: Loic Gallant (11) | |
| 18:41 | GFR | Bailey Shortall (8) ASST: Coen Miller (26), Jonah Leard (32) | |
| 1st OT | |||
| 4:12 | GFR | Coen Miller (21) ASST: Jonah Leard (33), Anton Topilnyckyj (11) |