GRAND FALLS – The Rapids lost a great opportunity to get even closer to the 4th and final playoff spot of their division, dropping a 6-3 decision to the Miramichi Timberwolves Wednesday night on home ice.
Trailing 4-1 in the second period, the Rapids were able to cut the lead to one goal, but the Timberwolves came back with two goals in the final frame to claim the victory, their 17th of the season.
Daryk Dubé-Plouffe and Liam Travis scored twice for Miramichi, as did Ben Diamond for Grand Falls with his 18th and 19th goals of the season. Adam Redding was the other scorer for the Rapids who were outshot 33 to 30.
The visitors got on the board at 5:21 of the opening period on a power play goal from Daryk Dubé-Plouffe who beat netminder Frédéric Plourde in the top corner of the net.
Then with only 30 seconds remaining in the frame, Liam Travis gave his team a two-goal lead with a wrist shot from the faceoff circle.
The Rapids did have more shots on goal (10) than the Timberwolves (8) through twenty minutes of play.
It was a wild second period as goals came in bunches from both sides.
Ben Diamond started things off for Grand Falls with an early goal as his shot hit the crossbar before finding the back of the net.
But Miramichi scored twice in a span of 41 seconds to take a 4-1 lead. Liam Travis added his second goal of the game at 6:23 on a two-man break into Rapids’ territory. Then at 7:04, Sam McKinney sent a shot with traffic in front of the net, giving Miramichi a three-goal advantage at that point. Charles-Antoine Julien replaced Frédéric Plourde between the pipes after the 4th Timberwolves’ tally.
However, the Rapids did not quit and also responded with two quick goals to cut the margin once again to one score.
Adam Redding had his initial shot stopped by goaltender Jack Flanagan, but Redding spun around and shot again, this time finding the back of the net for his 5th goal of the season.
Less than a minute later, at 12:36, Ben Diamond scored his second goal of the game on a breakaway. It was also Diamond’s 19th of the season, bringing the score to 4-3, which stayed that way until the end of the second period.
The Timberwolves were outshot 10 to 9 in the third period, but they were the only team to score as they cashed in on two occasions, including Daryk Dubé-Plouffe’s second of the game at 1:48 on a back hand shot. Will Allen made it 6-3 for Miramichi at 5:28 on a wrister from the slot.
Miramichi’s lead over the Rapids in the Eastlink North standings is now 8 points, but Grand falls has two games in hand.
The Rapids will hit the road for two games this upcoming weekend. They travel to Summerside for a Saturday night matchup while on Sunday night, they clash with the Campbellton Tigers at the Memorial Civic Centre.
Patrick Thibault
GAME NOTES:
*Some key players were missing from the Rapids’ lineup on Wednesday night: Bryce Thomson, Hunter Gartley and Josh Russell were not in uniform. Two affiliated players suited up: Ben Alchorn and Reid Calder.
*A total of 7 players picked up 2 points for the Timberwolves on Wednesday night: Daryk Dubé-Plouffe and Liam Travis (2 goals each), Sam McKinney (1g 1a), Travis Badcock, Felix Landry, William Schofield and Kaden McNeil (all 2 assists).
Ben Diamond with his two goals was the leading scorer for the Rapids.
*Grand Falls went 0 for 4 on the power play while Miramichi scored 1g in 3 PP opportunities.
*Game attendance: 634 spectators
*Three stars of the game: 1- Daryk Dubé-Plouffe (MIR); 2- Ben Diamond (GFR); 3- Jacob Santerre (MIR)
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 5:21 | MIR | Daryk Dube-Plouffe (27) ASST: Sam McKinney (28), Felix Landry (25) (PP) | |
| 19:30 | MIR | Liam Travis (6) ASST: William Schofield (15) | |
| 2nd | |||
| 1:32 | GFR | Ben Diamond (18) ASST: Yannic Bastarache (29), Mathis Huot (20) | |
| 6:23 | MIR | Liam Travis (7) ASST: Kaden McNeil (2), Felix Landry (26) | |
| 7:04 | MIR | Sam McKinney (11) ASST: William Schofield (16), Travis Badcock (8) | |
| 11:47 | GFR | Adam Redding (5) ASST: Kobe Burt (3), Marc-Antoine Belzile (9) | |
| 12:36 | GFR | Ben Diamond (19) ASST: Ethan Johnson (7) | |
| 3rd | |||
| 1:48 | MIR | Daryk Dube-Plouffe (28) ASST: Jacob Santerre (36), Kaden McNeil (3) | |
| 5:28 | MIR | Will Allen (1) ASST: Ludovic Dufort (19), Travis Badcock (9) |