GRAND FALLS – The Rapids started their eight-game homestand on Friday night on a positive note, scoring six unanswered goals in a decisive 8-2 victory over the Valley Wildcats.
It was a 3rd win this season for Grand Falls who also avenges its 4-1 loss to the Wildcats suffered last weekend in Nova Scotia.
Jonah Leard scored twice for the Rapids while also collecting two assists for a 4-point night. Linemate Jeremy D’Astous also contributed offensively with a 1g 4a performance, receiving first star honors.
Adam Lecours registered his 3rd victory of the season between the pipes, facing a total of 37 shots.
Each team got on the board in the opening period. Will Hartnell scored for the visitors at 1:04 while Jonah Leard, with his first tally of the game, tied the score for the Rapids close to the 8-minute mark of the frame. Leard’s goal came on the power play, his 5th of the season with the man advantage.
Leard added his second of the game at 5:05 of the second period on a two-on-one break. His backhand shot beat Wildcats’ netminder Will Cole.
Aidan Bent would however tie the game 2-2 at 14:47 but only 27 seconds later, Jacob Pelletier scored his first goal as a Rapid after receiving a perfect pass to the front of the net.
Grand Falls would add another goal before the end of the frame. Brody Paré made it 4-2, scoring stick side on an odd man rush.
The Rapids scored four unanswered goals in the third period on only 10 shots. Dawson Grandy scored his first of the campaign at 2:12, followed by Caleb MacDonald’s 3rd of the season at 6:29.
Jeremy D’Astous would complete his night by scoring his second of the season at 12:57. Nathan Rhodes completed the scoring at 18:38, his 2nd of the campaign.
Nathan Rhodes and Caleb MacDonald both had 1g 1g performances for the Rapids while Patrick Baxter also picked up two points with 2 assists.
Grand Falls, who shot 27 times on net, went 1 for 2 on the power play while Valley went scoreless on 3 PP opportunities.
A total of 1040 spectators were in attendance.
The Rapids return to action on Sunday afternoon as they host the Campbellton Tigers. Puck drop is at 3pm at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
*3 STARS OF THE GAME:
1- Jeremy D’Astous (GFR); 2- Jonah Leard (GFR); 3- Raphael Denis (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
1st |
|
|
|
1:04 |
VAL |
Will Hartnell (2) ASST: Dylan Manning (2) |
|
7:52 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (7) ASST: Caleb MacDonald (3), Jeremy D’Astous (6) (PP) |
|
2nd |
|
|
|
5:05 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (8) ASST: Jeremy D’Astous (7), Raphael Denis (4) |
|
14:47 |
VAL |
Aidan Bent (4) ASST: Braedon Hemenway (5) |
|
15:14 |
GFR |
Jacob Pelletier (1) ASST: Nathan Rhodes (2), Brayden Campbell (3) |
|
17:44 |
GFR |
Brody Pare (2) ASST: Patrick Baxter (4) |
|
3rd |
|
|
|
2:12 |
GFR |
Dawson Grandy (1) ASST: Jeremy D’Astous (8), Patrick Baxter (5) |
|
6:29 |
GFR |
Caleb MacDonald (3) ASST: Jeremy D’Astous (9), Jonah Leard (3) |
|
12:57 |
GFR |
Jeremy D’Astous (2) ASST: Jonah Leard (4), Raphael Michaud (1) |
|
18:38 |
GFR |
Nathan Rhodes (2) ASST: None |