RAPIDS FALL SHORT, BUT EARN PRECIOUS POINT IN THE STANDINGS
GRAND FALLS – If there’s such a thing as a constructive loss, it happened to be the case for the Rapids on Sunday afternoon as they came back from a four-goal deficit to force overtime to earn a precious point in the standings.
The visiting Campbellton Tigers came up with a hard-fought 6-5 victory against a very resilient Grand Falls team that is showing signs of an offensive revival after struggling to score some goals during the last few weeks.
With 1-point earned to their credit, the Rapids remain in second spot in the Eastlink North standings, 3-points back of the Chaleur Lightning and 2-points ahead of the third place West Kent Steamers.
Former Rapids’ Caleb MacDonald scored the game-winning goal 59 seconds into the overtime frame, sending a wrist shot past netminder Jérémy Thibodeau-Soucy who came into the game in the second period, making some key saves and being largely responsible for his team’s comeback.
Campbellton jumped to a 5-1 lead mid-way into the contest, but the Rapids came storming back with four unanswered goals, including Zackarie Michaud’s game-tying goal with only 21 seconds remaining in regulation time.
The game did not start very well for Grand Falls as the visitors got on the scoreboard with two goals in the first 3 minutes of play of the opening period. Victor Lanoue and Logan Mallaley (on the power play) gave Campbellton a 2-0 lead after twenty minutes of play.
Oliver Plante, who has been very effective offensively in the last few games, scored his 8th of the season with only 14 seconds played into the second period to cut the Rapids’ deficit to one goal. However, the Tigers scored three unanswered goals to take a 5-1 lead. Luke Orr, Alex Lavoie and Eliot Arsenault (shorthanded) were the goal scorers. Before the end of the period, the Rapids started their comeback with goals from Jonah Leard, his 12th of the season, and Tristan Richard to bring them within two goals of the Tigers after two periods.
With just under 9 minutes remaining in the third period, defenseman Jack Brown’s shot from the point found the back of the net, cutting the deficit to one goal. Then at 19:39, Zackarie Michaud deflected a shot past Tigers’ goalkeeper Niko Boudreau, tying the game 5-5 and forcing overtime.
Three players from the Rapids collected 2 points in the game: Zackarie Michaud and Jonah Leard both finished the game with 1g 1a while Nathan Plamondon-Michaud earned 2 assists.
Caleb MacDonald and Logan Mallaley both led the way offensively for the Tigers with 1g 2a each.
The Rapids will be on the road next weekend as they visit the Edmundston Blizzard on Saturday night at the Jean-Daigle Centre and the Miramichi Timberwolves on Sunday afternoon.
EXTRA NOTES …
*The Rapids had the edge in the shots on goal department, 38 to 25.
Note that Adam Lecours was the starting goaltender for Grand Falls before Jérémy Thibodeau-Soucy took over the duties in the second period.
*Three stars of the game: 1- Niko Boudreau (CAM); 2- Jonah Leard (GFR); Alex Lavoie (CAM)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 1:15 | CAM | Victor Lanoue (5) ASST: Caleb MacDonald (17) | |
| 3:13 | CAM | Logan Mallaley (8) ASST: Alex Lavoie (5), Caleb MacDonald (18) (PP) | |
| 2nd | |||
| 0:14 | GFR | Oliver Plante (8) ASST: None | |
| 0:57 | CAM | Luke Orr (6) ASST: Logan Mallaley (13), Nathan Lebrasseur (9) | |
| 5:29 | CAM | Alex Lavoie (8) ASST: Brett Woodard (3) | |
| 9:39 | CAM | Eliot Arseneault (5) ASST: None (SH) | |
| 16:22 | GFR | Jonah Leard (12) ASST: Declan Kennedy (2), Zackarie Michaud (18) | |
| 17:59 | GFR | Tristan Richard (3) ASST: Isaac Allard (11), Coen Miller (20) | |
| 3rd | |||
| 8:41 | GFR | Jack Brown (1) ASST: Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (15), Jonah Leard (26) | |
| 19:39 | GFR | Zackarie Michaud (13) ASST: Loic Francoeur (23), Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (16) | |
| 1st OT | |||
| 0:59 | CAM | Caleb MacDonald (17) ASST: Logan Mallaley (14) |