RAPIDS FALL 7-2 TO THE WESTERN CAPITALS
GRAND FALLS – The Grand Falls GreenFoot Rapids were defeated by a score of 7-2 on Sunday afternoon against the Summerside Western Capitals, ending their weekend with two losses and one point added to the standings.
It was a tough outing for the Rapids who saw their opponents dominate from the very first puck drop. Shots on goal were 40 to 24 in favor of Summerside who took an early lead and never looked back.
Justin Ouellette (2g 1a) led the way offensively for the Western Capitals who thus earned their first victory of the season.
Special teams were also dominated by the Western Capitals as they scored twice on the power play. The Rapids went scoreless with the man advantage, still looking for their first PP goal of the season.
It was actually on the power play that the visitors first got on the board when Matthew MacLean’s tip in front of the net made it 1-0 at the 7-minute mark of the first period.
Declan MacLauchlan made it 2-0 at 9:33, beating rookie netminder Dax Robichaud in the top corner of the net.
Summerside took a 4-0 lead in the middle frame on goals from former Rapid Matthew Ferdinand and Isaac Taweel.
The Rapids showed life before the end of the period, scoring on two occasions. On a three-on-two break, Jonah Leard sent the puck past Summerside goaltender Max Picard at 17:12, his second tally of the season. Then at 18:54, Patrick Baxter tipped a shot from Antoine L’Italien from the faceoff circle, cutting the deficit to 4-2 after two periods.
It was all Summerside in the final twenty minutes of play. Justin Ouellette scored twice, including his second of the contest on a breakaway, while Owen MacPherson completed the scoring.
The Rapids will play their next game on Thursday night in Miramichi against the Timberwolves before returning on home ice next Sunday as they host the Campbellton Tigers for a 3pm matchup at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
Patrick Thibault
Three stars of the game:
1-Owen MacPherson (SWC)
2-Justin Ouellette (SWC)
3-Jordan Shaw (SWC)
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 7:23 | SWC | Matthew MacLean (1) ASST: Gavin Smith (1), Owen MacPherson (1) (PP) | |
| 9:33 | SWC | Declan MacLauchlan (1) ASST: Jordan Shaw (2), Justin Ouellette (2) | |
| 2nd | |||
| 7:37 | SWC | Matthew Ferdinand (1) ASST: Maverick Hayes (1) | |
| 12:13 | SWC | Isaac Taweel (1) ASST: None | |
| 17:12 | GFR | Jonah Leard (2) ASST: Zackarie Michaud (2), Kaden Bell (2) | |
| 18:54 | GFR | Patrick Baxter (1) ASST: Antoine L’Italien (4) | |
| 3rd | |||
| 5:32 | SWC | Justin Ouellette (1) ASST: Aiden Diamond (2), Cade Moser (3) (PP) | |
| 6:32 | SWC | Owen MacPherson (2) ASST: Max Gamble (1), Maverick Hayes (2) | |
| 12:24 | SWC | Justin Ouellette (2) ASST: Jordan Shaw (3) |