GRAND FALLS – Jonah Leard scored with less than 3 minutes remaining in regulation time, breaking a 5-5 tie and sending the Rapids to a 7-5 victory over the Fredericton Red Wings on Friday night in Grand Falls. It was the first game back for both teams following the holiday break.
Leard scored on a delayed penalty to Fredericton, taking his own rebound in front of the net and scoring his team-leading 20th goal of the season.
Jeremy D’Astous, who finished the game with 2 goals and 2 assists, scored the insurance goal in an empty net with 28 seconds remaining.
It was the Rapids’ 9th victory of the season and their 5th at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
It was a wide-open affair from the very beginning as three goals were scored in the first 5:37 of the contest.
Raphael Denis, recently named top defenseman of the last month in the MHL, got things going for Grand Falls at the 3-minute mark of the opening frame. Denis scored on a backhand shot in front of the net as a delayed penalty was being called to the Red Wings. It didn’t take long for Caleb MacDonald to add to the lead, scoring at 4:36 on a pass from Jeremy D’Astous in front of the net. It was MacDonald’s 13th tally of the season.
Then Sam MacFarlane replied for Fredericton at 5:37. However, the Rapids regained a two-goal cushion at 14:30 on a goal from Raphael Michaud who tipped in a pass behind Red Wings’ netminder Mathieu Mongrain. The Rapids held a 3-1 lead after twenty minutes of play.
A total of 6 goals were scored in the second period, including four by the Red Wings.
Salem Johnson reduced the margin to 3-2 at 11:32 on a wrist shot to the stick side of goalkeeper Adam Lecours. But Jeremy D’Astous would bring the score 4-2 at 12:30 on a shot to the top corner of the net, his first of the game and his 15th of the season.
Four goals were scored in a span of 2:29. Fredericton scored three consecutive goals, coming from Aiden Brewer, Ryan Hopkins and Jackson Shaddrick as they took a 5-4 lead, stunning the home crowd at that moment.
But before the end of the period, Nicholas Brennan tied the game 5-5 with his 10th of the season on a pass from Brayden Campbell.
Only two goals were scored in the third period which was dominated by the Rapids in shots on goal, 15 to 5. Jonah Leard scored the game winning goal at 18:31, followed by Jeremy D’Astous’ empty net tally at 19:32.
Grand Falls led the game 38 to 20 in the shots on goal department.
D’Astous was the Rapids’ leading scorer with 2g 2a while Nicholas Brennan and Jonah Leard both finished the game with 1g 2a.
Note that no player on the Red Wings’ lineup had more than 1 point to their record.
The Rapids finished the game 0 for 4 on the power play but scored twice on a delayed penalty to Fredericton. The Red Wings went 0 for 1 with the man advantage.
The Rapids return to action on Saturday night as they visit the Miramichi Timberwolves (7pm) in a game that will be very important to the Eastlink North division standings.
*3 STARS OF THE GAME:
1- Jérémy D’Astous (GFR); 2- Raphaël Denis(GFR); 3- Zachary Rushton (FRW)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
|
1st |
|
|
|
|
3:03 |
GFR |
Raphael Denis (7) ASST: Nicholas Brennan (11) |
|
|
4:36 |
GFR |
Caleb MacDonald (13) ASST: Jérémy D’Astous (34), Jonah Leard (25) |
|
|
5:37 |
FRW |
Sam MacFarlane (11) ASST: Tyson Snow (8) |
|
|
14:30 |
GFR |
Raphael Michaud (3) ASST: Dawson Grandy (6), Nicholas Brennan (12) |
|
|
2nd |
|
|
|
|
11:32 |
FRW |
Salem Johnson (3) ASST: Jayden Burtt-Munn (3), Bates Ling (4) |
|
|
12:30 |
GFR |
Jérémy D’Astous (15) ASST: None |
|
|
16:02 |
FRW |
Aidan Brewer (3) ASST: Xzander Pierce (5) |
|
|
17:15 |
FRW |
Ryan Hopkins (10) ASST: Benjamin De Jonge (18) |
|
|
17:58 |
FRW |
Jackson Shaddick (8) ASST: Zachary Rushton (6) |
|
|
18:31 |
GFR |
Nicholas Brennan (10) ASST: Brayden Campbell (12) |
|
|
3rd |
|
|
|
|
17:13 |
GFR |
Jonah Leard (20) ASST: Jérémy D’Astous (35), Dawson Grandy (7) |
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|
19:32 |
GFR |
Jérémy D’Astous (16) ASST: Jonah Leard (26), Raphael Denis (27) (EN) |
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