GRAND FALLS – The Rapids scored three unanswered goals in the second period, breaking a 1-1 tie and skating away with a 6-2 victory Friday night over the Campbellton Tigers.
It was Grand Falls’ first victory of the season and a first one on home ice before a crowd of 950 spectators assembled at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
Jonah Leard led the way offensively for the Rapids with a hat trick. Jeremy D’Astous, Nicholas Brennan and Brayden Campbell completed the scoring for Grand Falls as they outshot their opponents 41 to 29 in the contest.
Owen Underhill scored the game’s first goal for Campbellton mid-way into the first period before Jonah Leard would record his first tally of the night on a rebound in front of the Tigers’crease at 14:16.
The Rapids scored the go-ahead goal at 3:38 of the middle frame as Jeremy D’Astous took advantage of a turnover at the opposing end, scoring on a breakaway. It was his first goal as a Rapid which came unassisted.
Jonah Leard brought the score 3-1 with his second of the night at 13:24 of the second on a wrister to the far corner of the net. Then Nicholas Brennan scored with under two minutes remaining in the period on a low shot in front of the net that beat Tigers’ netminder Nathan Mills. It was Brennan’s second goal of the season as the Rapids went ahead 4-1 after two periods of play.
Leard would complete his hat trick with only 21 seconds played into the final frame.
Jean-Alexandre Tétreault (CAM) and Brayden Campbell (GFR) would complete the scoring for their respective teams. Campbell’s goal came on a breakaway at the 15-minute mark of the third period, his 3rd of the season.
Adam Lecours made 27 saves to notch the victory between the pipes. The Rapids scored twice on the power play on Jonah Leard’s second and third goals of the game.
Note also that defenseman Raphael Denis was playing his first game for the Rapids, picking up 2 assists. Derek Bird and Caleb MacDonaldalso finished the game with 2 assists each to their credit while Nicholas Brennan, Jeremy D’Astous and Brayden Campbell all compiled records of 1g 1a.
The Rapids will play their next game on the road as they travel to Miramichi on Sunday for a 2pm start.
*3 STARS OF THE GAME:
1- Jonah Leard (GFR); 2- Adam Lecours (GFR); 3- Caleb MacDonald (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
|
1st |
|
|
|
|
10:37 |
CAM |
Owen Underhill (3) ASST: Tyler Pazin (2), Beren Simard (2) (PP) |
|
|
14:16 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (2) ASST: Jeremy D’Astous (1), Caleb MacDonald (1) |
|
|
2nd |
|
|
|
|
3:38 |
GFR |
Jeremy D’Astous (1) ASST: None |
|
|
13:24 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (3) ASST: Derek Bird (2), Caleb MacDonald (2) (PP) |
|
|
18:38 |
GFR |
Nicholas Brennan (2) ASST: Brayden Campbell (1), Raphael Denis (1) |
|
|
3rd |
|
|
|
|
0:21 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (4) ASST: Raphael Denis (2), Derek Bird (3) (PP) |
|
|
13:06 |
CAM |
Jean-Alexandre Tétreault (1) ASST: Mathis Guevin (1) (SH) |
|
|
15:46 |
GFR |
Brayden Campbell (3) ASST: Nicholas Brennan (2 |