RAPIDS DROP A 2-1 DECISION IN AMHERST
AMHERST (Nova Scotia) – Brock Bartholomew scored at 6 :03 of the third period, breaking a 1-1 tie and giving the Amherst Ramblers a 2-1 victory Saturday night against the Grand Falls Rapids.
Bartholomew scored on a rebound in front of the crease, beating Rapids’ netminder Nolan Boyd with a low shot under the pads.
It was only the second loss in four games thus far this season for Grand Falls who complete their two-game trip to Nova Scotia with a .500 record.
It was a hard-fought battle from beginning to end, but the home team came out stronger in the third period to earn two big points in the standings.
Both teams were able to get on the board in the opening period. The Rapids were first to score at 10:41 on Zac Arsneault’s hard slap shot from the top of the circle, beating goaltender Mitchell Dudar on the blocker side. It was Arsenault’s 2nd goal of the season.
After killing a double minor penalty late in the period, the Rapids appeared to be skating off the ice with a 1-0 lead, but the Ramblers tied the score at 18:33 on a scramble in front of Nolan Boyd’s crease. Julien Hebert took control of a loose puck for his first goal of the season.
Dudar (AMH) and Boyd (GFR) were both solid between the pipes for their respective teams as 27 shots in total were registered in the first twenty minutes of play favoring Amherst (14-13).
The second period went scoreless even though both teams did get some good opportunities to take the lead with the man advantage. Play became physical at times, leading to uneccessary and undisciplined penalties. Shots on goal were even in the middle frame (9-9).
Amherst dominated the third period, sending 15 shots on goal against only 3 for Grand Falls. Because of time spent in the penalty box, it became difficult for Nick Tremere’s squad to establish a certain rhythm on offense.
Brock Bartholomew tallied the game winner at the 6-minute mark, scoring on a rebound in front of the Rapids’ crease.
Nolan Boyd stood his ground, keeping his team in the game with some key saves in the third period. Amherst dominated the contest in the shots on goal department, 38 to 25.
Note that the Rapids were penalized for a total of 34 minutes in the game in comparison to 10 minutes for the Ramblers.
The Rapids will return to the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre next weekend for two games. Friday night, they will host the Truro Bearcats (7:30 pm) and on Sunday afternoon, the Fredericton Red Wings will be in Grand Falls for a 3 pm game start.
Patrick Thibault
GAME NOTES:
*Dominic Leblanc and Yannic Bastarache each picked up an assist on Zac Arsenault’s first period goal.
*Three stars of the game : 1- Brock Bartholomew (AMH); 2- Mitchell Dudar (AMH); 3- Nolan Boyd (GFR)
*Game attendance : 355 spectators
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 10:41 | GFR | Zac Arsenault (2) ASST: Dominic Leblanc (4), Yannic Bastarache (1) | |
| 18:33 | AMH | Julien Hebert (1) ASST: Ben Williams (3), Malcolm Genge (1) | |
| 2nd | |||
| No Scoring | |||
| 3rd | |||
| 6:03 | AMH | Brock Bartholomew (2) ASST: Steven Klinck (2), Jeremiah Martin (1) | |