RAPIDS DEFEAT VALLEY 2-1
GRAND FALLS – Coen Miller made a great impression in his debut performance with the Rapids, scoring the game winner late in the third period in a 2-1 victory over the visiting Valley Wildcats Friday night at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
Miller, who came over from Miramichi via a trade a few days ago, didn’t take time to show why he is among the top scorers in the MHL, creating plays and shooting several times at the net while being very effective on the power play. His winning goal came with the man advantage with under 5 minutes remaining in regulation time as the score was tied 1-1.
It was an important victory for the Rapids who remain in second spot in the Eastlink North division standings, 3 points behind the Chaleur Lightning. It was win no.15 for Grand Falls on the season and their 11th on home ice, which leads the league.
Both goaltenders were solid as the Rapids had a 48 to 25 edge in the shots on goal department. Jérémy Thibodeau-Soucy earned the win while his counterpart, Sean Hogan, was the reason why the score remained close throughout the contest, blocking a total of 46 shots.
The Rapids got on the scoreboard at 12:28 of the first period with Oliver Plante’s 7th goal of the season, scored on a breakaway.
No goals were scored in the middle frame, but Valley tied the score at the 7-minute mark of the third period on Félix Bélanger’s one-timer.
Then at 16:16 while the Rapids were on the power play, Coen Miller’s shot from a tough angle beat the Wildcats’ netminder, giving the Rapids’ the lead and the victory.
Miller’s presence seemed to revive the Rapids’ offense and especially the power play as puck control and scoring chances were key elements that gave Greg Leland’s squad a distinct advantage over their opponents.
The Rapids will play their next game on Sunday afternoon, once again at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre, as the visitors will be the Campbellton Tigers. Puck drop is at 3pm.
EXTRA NOTES …
*Anton Topilnyckyj, Jonah Leard, Brody Pare and Loic Francoeur each earned an assist.
*For Coen Miller, it was his 17th goal of the season and his 8th power play tally.
*Three stars of the game: 1- Coen Miller (GFR); 2- Sean Hogan (VAL); 3- Jérémy Thibodeau-Soucy (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 12:28 | GFR | Oliver Plante (7) ASST: Brody Pare (7), Anton Topilnyckyj (9) | |
| 2nd | |||
| No Scoring | |||
| 3rd | |||
| 7:11 | VAL | Felix Belanger (9) ASST: Josh Vincent (10), Victor Proulx (1) | |
| 16:16 | GFR | Coen Miller (17) ASST: Loic Francoeur (22), Jonah Leard (25) (PP) | |