RAPIDS STAY UNDEFEATED ON HOME ICE

GRAND FALLS – The Rapids earned their 6th consecutive victory on home ice on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Yarmouth Mariners by a score of 7-3. It was a 7th victory this season for Grand Falls who also put an end to a three-game winless streak.

After a difficult loss on Saturday night in Miramichi, the Rapids were determined to turn things around in front of their fans and they certainly didn’t disappoint the crowd of over 900 spectators assembled at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.

With both teams playing to a scoreless tie in the first half of the opening period, the Rapids took control by scoring twice in a span of less than two minutes.
Oliver Plante sent a one-timer to the back of the net at 13:19 for his 4th goal of the season. Then at 14:40, Carter Bellamy scored in the same fashion, a one-timer that beat Mariners’ goaltender Noah Muise. It was Bellamy’s first tally of the season.

The Rapids exploded with five unanswered goals in the second period to take a comfortable 7-0 lead.
Defenseman Isaac Allard sent a wrist shot from the slot at the 5-minute mark, adding to the Rapid’ lead. Then came Loic Francoeur’s power play goal on a screen shot at 6:46 to give Grand Falls a 4-goal advantage.
Patrick Baxter added the Rapids’ fifth goal at 9:02, followed by Dereck Asselin’s tally on a wrister at 13:32. Reid Calder brought the score to 7-0 at 14:23 on a tip in front of the net.

The Mariners scored their first goal at the end of the middle frame (Jared Pitman). They added two more in the final period of play from Liam Dutcher and Luke Foley.

The Rapids dominated the game 41 to 36 in shots on goal. Adam Lecours picked up the win between the pipes, his 5th of the season.
The first star of the game went to Jonah Leard (3 assists) while Nathan Plamondon-Michaud and Isaac Allard were named second and third stars respectively.

The Rapids will try to pursue their winning streak on home ice as they host next weekend Edmundston and Pictou County.

STATISTICS TO SHARE:

*The Rapids have not allowed more than 4 goals per game to their opponents since the start of the season. They have allowed only 34 goals thus far for an average of less than 4 goals per game.

*Zackarie Michaud leads the team in scoring with a record of 4g and 9a for 13 points. He is followed by Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (6g 5a 11pts).

*Following Sunday’s game, the Rapids led their division in power play efficiency (23.5%).
Their penalty kill is ranked 5th in their division (82.6%).

*A total of 17 players have scored at least one goal for the Rapids this season.

Patrick Thibault

Scoring
1st
13:19 GFR Oliver Plante (4) ASST: Brayden Campbell (5), Dereck Asselin (4)

14:40 GFR Carter Bellamy (1) ASST: Jonah Leard (5)

2nd
5:00 GFR Isaac Allard (2) ASST: Jonah Leard (6), Reid Calder (1)

6:46 GFR Loic Francoeur (5) ASST: Jonah Leard (7), Mathis Cyr (5) (PP)

9:02 GFR Patrick Baxter (3) ASST: Zackarie Michaud (9)

13:32 GFR Dereck Asselin (3) ASST: Julien Avignon-Bourque (4)

14:23 GFR Reid Calder (2) ASST: Jack Brown (1)

19:39 YAR Jared Pitman (2) ASST: Justin Garneau (5) (SH)

3rd
6:29 YAR Liam Dutcher (2) ASST: Louis-Carl Tremblay (4)

8:40 YAR Luke Foley (2) ASST: Liam Dutcher (3), Ryan Loveless (2) (PP)