RAPIDS DROP A 5-3 DECISION IN TRURO
TRURO – For a second consecutive game, the Grand Falls Rapids came within one goal of tying the score in the final period of play after failing to score in the first forty minutes of the contest. On Friday night, it was against the Truro Bearcats that the Rapids were battling against, dropping a 5-3 decision in the second of a three-game road trip over the weekend.
Truro went ahead 3-0 after two periods before Grand Falls came back once again with a strong offensive performance in the final frame.
With Chaleur’s victory over the Edmundston Blizzard on Friday, the Rapids are now tied for first spot with the Lightning who do have however one more win to their credit.
It didn’t take long for the Bearcats to jump ahead in the opening period as Callum Aucoin found the back of the net with only 36 seconds following the first puck drop.
Truro added two more goals in the middle frame. Rylan Sutherland and Drew Keiver pushed the lead to 3-0.
The Rapids scored their first goal at 6:52 of the third period when Nathan Plamondon-Michaud took control of a deflected pass in front of the net, scoring his team-leading 13th goal of the season. Then only 54 seconds later, Brayden Campbell scored on a give-and-go with linemate Jonah Leard, cutting Truro’s lead to one goal.
The Bearcats added a 4th goal at 15:48 on Eli Baillargeon’s power play tally to bring the score to 4-2.
Campbell would add his second of the game at 17:40 on a rebound in front of the net to give the Rapids some hope once again. But Eli Baillargeon sealed the victory for the Bearcats with an empty net goal, his second tally of the game and his 19th of the season.
Jeremy Thibodeau-Soucy faced a total of 29 shots between the pipes for the Rapids. Bearcats’ netminder Louca Connolly blocked 17 of the 20 shots sent by Grand Falls.
The Rapids will end their three-game road trip by facing off against the Summerside Western Capitals Saturday night at Credit Union Place arena, hoping to get off to a better start against the Eastlink South division leaders.
EXTRA NOTES …
*Eli Baillargeon led the way offensively for the Bearcats with a 2g 1a performance.
Brayden Campbell (2g) and Jonah Leard (2a) were the leading scorers for the Rapids.
*Truro scored once on 4 power play opportunities while the Rapids were shutout on 3 PP tries.
*Moncton Flyers’ Simon Bourque was called up by the Rapids for Friday’s contest. Bourque has scored 12 goals in 13 games this season for his AAA Midget team.
*Three stars of the game: 1- Eli Baillargeon (TRU); 2- Rylan Sutherland (TRU); 3- Brayden Campbell (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 0:36 | TRU | Callum Aucoin (17) ASST: Rylan Sutherland (2), Wyatt Countway (4) | |
| 2nd | |||
| 1:16 | TRU | Rylan Sutherland (4) ASST: Tristan St.Gelais (16) | |
| 14:44 | TRU | Drew Keiver (9) ASST: Eli Baillargeon (9), Matthew Merryweather (4) | |
| 3rd | |||
| 6:52 | GFR | Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (13) ASST: Zackarie Michaud (16), Isaac Allard (8) | |
| 7:46 | GFR | Brayden Campbell (6) ASST: Jonah Leard (21), Anton Topilnyckyj (8) | |
| 15:48 | TRU | Eli Baillargeon (18) ASST: Liam Welsh (12), Callum Aucoin (11) (PP) | |
| 17:30 | GFR | Brayden Campbell (7) ASST: Jonah Leard (22), Jack Brown (3) | |
| 19:34 | TRU | Eli Baillargeon (19) ASST: Matthew Bolduc (8), Wyatt Countway (5) (EN) |