GRAND FALLS – Three third period goals led the Rapids to a 4-1 victory Friday night against their Northwestern rivals, the Edmundston Blizzard, in the first exhibition contest of the season for both teams.
As expected, many new names were on the lineup for both squads. It was a fast-paced game from the very start as the Rapids were able to outshoot their opponents during each period, finishing with a 30 to 20 edge.
The Blizzard were first to score in the opening period on a goal from Ryder MacQueen at 13:55.
Bates Ling tied the score for the Rapids at 7:48 of the middle frame after receiving a pass from behind the net.
The winning goal came with the man advantage before the first-minute mark of the third period. Patrick Baxter’s shot from the point found the back of the net, putting the Rapids in front for good.
Enrick Fournier, on a one-timer at 9:30, and Aiden Silvaggio at 16:45 completed the scoring for Grand Falls.
Silvaggio and Bates Ling would both finish the game with identical records of 1 goal and 1 assist.
Loic Nadeau and Scott Leblanc shared the work between the pipes for the Rapids while Olivier St-Onge and Adian Green did the same for the Blizzard.
The Rapids will play their next exhibition game on Sunday night as they host the Fredericton Red Wings at 7pm at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
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1st |
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13:55 |
EDM |
Ryder MacQueen (1) ASST: Dylan pelletier (1), Rafael Nadeau (1) |
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2nd |
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7:48 |
GFR |
Bates Ling (1) ASST: Aiden Silvaggio (1), Julien Gauvreau (1) |
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3rd |
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0:42 |
GFR |
Patrick Baxter (1) ASST: Carter Bellamy (1), Matthew Ferdinand (1) (PP) |
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9:30 |
GFR |
Enrick Fournier (1) ASST: Nathan Rhodes (1), Alex Culligan (1) |
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16:45 |
GFR |
Aiden Silvaggio (1) ASST: Bates Ling (1) |
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