GRAND FALLS – The Pictou County Weeks Crushers scored three consecutive goals in the second period to break a 2-2 tie, holding on for a 5-4 victory Sunday afternoon in Grand Falls against the Rapids.
Trailing 5-2 at one point, the Rapids cut the lead to two goals in the second period and were down by only one tally in the third. They came close to tying the score late in the third but a dissalowed goal kept the Rapids to 16 points in the standings. They are currently 12 points back of the Miramichi Timberwolves for the fourth and final playoff spot available in the EastLink North division.
Preston Pattengale scored twice for Pictou County, including the first goal of the contest which came at 6:04 of the opening frame.
Nicholas Brennan tied the score at 10:10 after he slid the puck under the pads of Weeks Crushers’ netminder Yianni Karkoulas.
Then at 14:56, Raphael Denis sent a wrist shot to the back of the net on a power play, giving Grand Falls a 2-1 lead.
Pictou County would tie the score at the 17-minute mark of the period on a goal from AlexChristmas.
In a wide open first period, Pictou County held an 11-8 advantage in shots on goal.
The visitors took advantage of a five–minute major penalty to score a power play goal early in the second period to regain the lead. Drew Maddigan sent a wrist shot from the point as goaltender Adam Lecours had traffic in front ofhis crease. Julien Eagles made it 4-2 when he tipped in a shot from the blue line by defenseman Owen Arnold. Then at 7:59, Preston Pattengale gave the Weeks Crushers a three-goal cushion as he scored his second of the game.
The Rapids would add a goal before the end of the period, which came at 14:40 when Brayden Campbell sent a pass to Nicholas Brennan who went in alone on Karkoulis.
Only one goal was scored in the third period when Derek Bird’s shot found the top corner of the net, bringing the score to 5-4 at the 13-minute mark. Pictou County would hang on for the win.
Each team scored once on the power play. Pictou County led the game in shots on goal, 30 to 29.
Preston Pattengale (2g 1a) and Alex Christmas (1g 2a) led the Weeks Crushers’ offense while Nicholas Brennan (2g) and Raphael Denis did the same for Grand Falls.
The Rapids will play their next game on the road as they travel to PEI on Thursday night to play the South division leaders, theSummerside Western Capitals.
*3 STARS OF THE GAME:
1- Alex Christmas (PCC); 2- Nicholas Brennan(GFR); 3- Preston Pattengale (PCC)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
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1st |
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6:04 |
PCC |
Preston Pattengale (8) ASST: Alex Christmas (6) |
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10:10 |
GFR |
Nicholas Brennan (5) ASST: Nathan Rhodes (5), Cole MacWilliam (3) |
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14:56 |
GFR |
Raphael Denis (5) ASST: Jeremy D’Astous (26), Jonah Leard (16) (PP) |
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17:33 |
PCC |
Alex Christmas (3) ASST: Kiefer Avery (19) |
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2nd |
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2:29 |
PCC |
Drew Maddigan (9) ASST: Preston Pattengale (11), Carter Murchison (7) (PP) |
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5:16 |
PCC |
Julien Rogles (1) ASST: Owen Arnold (8), Alex Christmas (7) |
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7:59 |
PCC |
Preston Pattengale (9) ASST: Drew Maddigan (8) |
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14:40 |
GFR |
Nicholas Brennan (6) ASST: Brayden Campbell (6), Patrick Baxter (11) |
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3rd |
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13:33 |
GFR |
Derek Bird (7) ASST: Raphael Denis (15) |