GRAND FALLS – Playing in his first game with the Rapids, Zacharie Charest broke a 2-2 tie at 12:19 of the third period as Grand Falls defeated the Miramichi Timberwolves by a score of 3-2 Friday night at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
Coming over to Grand Falls via trade last week from Miramichi, Charest stunned his ex-teammates by sending a wrist shot through the pads of netminder Niko Boudreau, thus ending an 8-game losing skid by the Rapids.
Defenseman Devin Johnson, also traded from Miramichi to Grand Falls, was also in the lineup on Friday night, assisting on Charest’s winning tally.
It was a valiant effort by Greg Leland’s squad. Playing a tough and physical team, the Rapids were able to win puck battles while stopping their opponents from scoring on the power play on 5 PP opportunities. Rapids’ goaltender Adam Lecours was once again outstanding between the pipes, making a total of 37 saves while earning his 6th victory of the season.
The Rapids sent a total of 35 shots on the opposing net.
The Rapids struck early in the first period when Tate Brenner’s shot from the corner surprised Niko Boudreau as the puck found its way between the post and the goalkeeper. It was Brenner’s first of the game, scored at 1:52.
It was the only goal of the period in which Miramichi led in shots on goal, 12 to 11.
It was the Timberwolves’ turn to score an early goal in the middle frame. As the initial shot hit the goalpost, Jérémy Duhamel took control of the puck and fired it past Lecours with only 33 seconds gone off the clock. It was Duhamel’s 9th goal of the season.
The Rapids regained the lead at 6:25 of the second period on a miscue by the Timberwolves’ goalie who got caught at the faceoff circle trying to shoot the puck out of his zone. Instead, it was Tate Brenner who got to the puck first, sending a shot that found its way to the back of the net. It was Brenner’s second tally of the game and his 8th of the season.
The Timberwolves were however able to tie the score once again at 9:57 when Ryan Hayes deflected a shot that got over the glove of Adam Lecours.
It was a hard-fought third period with a number of chances on each side to score with the man advantage. Adam Lecours stood tall in net while the newcomers took care of business by scoring the game winner at the 12-minute mark.
For the Rapids, it was an 8th victory this season as they now total 19 points in the Eastlink North division standings, which is 2pts less than the Campbellton Tigers who were defeated on Friday night.
The Rapids will play their next game on Sunday afternoon as they host the the Fredericton Red Wings. Puck drop is at 3pm.
GAME NOTES:
*With his 8 goals this season, Tate Brenner has now taken the lead as the Rapids’ leading goal scorer.
Three players follow with 7 goals each: Jérémy Boulanger, Ethan Johnson and Zacharie Charest.
*The Rapids went 0 for 6 on the power play while the Timberwolves went scoreless on 5 pp opportunities.
*Game attendance: 852
*Three stars of the game: 1- Adam Lecours (GFR); 2- Zacharie Charest (GFR); 3- Tate Brenner (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
1st
1:52 GFR Tate Brenner (7) ASST: Jonah Leard (4), Ethan Johnson (18)
2nd
0:33 MIR Jeremy Duhamel (9) ASST: Mitchell Wagner (8), Ryan Hayes (2)
6:25 GFR Tate Brenner (8) ASST: None
9:57 MIR Ryan Hayes (1) ASST: Mitchell Wagner (9)
3rd
12:19 GFR Zacharie Charest (7) ASST: Devin Johnson (3), Jeremy Boulanger (20)