SUMMERSIDE (PEI) – The Summerside Western Capitals were the most opportunistic team on Thursday night, scoring twice on the power play and killing off four minor penalties in a 5-2 victory over the Rapids.
Grand Falls had a 40 to 32 advantage in shots on goal, dominating their opponents in each period.
Summerside evens the season series againstthe Rapids after dropping a 7-4 decision last November 1st in Grand Falls.
Jonah Leard scored twice for the Rapids, his team-leading 16th and 17th goals of the season. Jérémy D’Astous continued his hot streak, picking up two assists which brings his season total to 9g and 28a for 37 points.
The Rapids had some great moments offensively in this contest but were frustrated numerous times by netminder George Gallant who was brilliant between the pipes for the Western Capitals.
Grand Falls went 1 for 5 on the power play, a statistical department in which their opponents were superior on Thursday night.
Jude Campbell, with his first goal of the season, got Summerside in front at 51 seconds of the start of the game.
Jonah MacDonald added a second goal at 11:05, a power play tally that gave the Western Capitals a 2-0 edge through twenty miunutes of play.
Brennan Murphy made it 3-0 at the 3-minute mark of the second period on a one-timer while Summerside was playing with the man advantage.
The third period started out great for the Rapids as they capitalized on a 5 on 3 power play at 1:18 when Jonah Leard scored on the stick side of Gallant. Leard would add his second goal of the night at 5:21 as he went in alone in front of the net, reducing the magin to only one goal.
Dominik Godin, the league’s leading scorer, would add Summerside’s insurance goal at 9:05 on a shot that went top shelf following a turnover in the Rapids’ zone.
Michael MacLean added the 5th Western Capitals’ goal in an empty net at 18:45.
The Rapids return to the ice on Friday night in Bouctouche as they meet the West Kent Steamers. Puck drop is at 7:30 pm.
*3 STARS OF THE GAME:
1- Dominik Godin (SWC); 2- George Gallant(SWC); 3- Jonah Leard (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
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1st |
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0:51 |
SWC |
Jude Campbell (1) ASST: Robbie Rutledge (25), Jano Zambakdjian (7) |
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11:05 |
SWC |
Jonah MacDonald (15) ASST: Brennan Murphy (14), Dominik Godin (19) (PP) |
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2nd |
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3:14 |
SWC |
Brennan Murphy (12) ASST: Dominik Godin (20), Robbie Rutledge (26) (PP) |
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3rd |
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1:18 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (16) ASST: Jérémy D’Astous (27), Raphael Denis (16) (PP) |
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5:21 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (17) ASST: Nathan Rhodes (6), Jérémy D’Astous (28) |
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9:05 |
SWC |
Dominik Godin (26) ASST: Robbie Rutledge (27), Jude Campbell (9) |
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18:45 |
SWC |
Michael MacLean (4) ASST: Travis Badcock (10) (EN, SH) |