RAPIDS TAKE FIRST PLACE IN THE NORTH

BATHURST – Guided by a two-goal performance from Oliver Plante and some solid goaltending from Adam Lecours, the Grand Falls Rapids earned a 5-3 victory Friday night in Bathurst against the Chaleur Lightning.
The win propels Grand Falls into first place in the Eastlink North division standings with a record of 10-3-1 for 21 points. It was also the Rapids 4th consecutive victory.

Adam Lecours was the difference maker in the opening period as the Lightning shot 13 times on net compared to only 3 for the Rapids. Lecours came up with some key saves to keep the game scoreless through twenty minutes of play.

However, Greg Leland’s squad was more efficient with the forecheck in the middle frame and came up with four unanswered goals.
Chaleur was first to score at 4:18 on a goal from Will Clark. But at the mid-way point of the period, the Rapids got their offence going.
It started with a power play tally at 10:12 from defenseman Mathis Cyr who scored from the faceoff circle on a pass from Loic Francoeur. Then Francoeur scored the go-ahead goal at 15:48 on a beautiful backhand pass from Reid Calder in front of the net.
Oliver Plante followed with his 5th and 6th tallies of the season at 16:13 and 18:04 to put the Rapids ahead 4-1. Chaleur cut the lead to two goals late in the period on a goal from Cohen MacCallum.

The Lightning scored first in the third period as they came to within one goal of tying the game. Brett Yuzik was the one who brought the score 4-3 on a wrist shot following a faceoff.
The Rapids’ insurance goal was scored by Zackarie Michaud at 9:58, his 6th of the season, after taking up speed from center ice and sending a shot past Lightning netminder Samuel Carreiras-Pata.

The final tally in shots on goal was 36 to 22 in favor of Chaleur. A total of 1289 spectators were assembled at the K.C. Irving Centre.
The Rapids return to home ice on Sunday afternoon as they host the Miramichi Timberwolves at 3pm. They will be aiming for a 9th consecutive victory at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.

EXTRA NOTES …

*Brayden Campbell earned 3 assists on Friday night. Three players finished with 3 points each: Oliver Plante (2g), Loic Francoeur (1g 1a) and Brody Pare (2a).

*The Rapids went 1 for 3 on the power play while the Lightning went scoreless in 3 PP opportunities.

*The stars of the game were in order: 1- Oliver Plante (GFR); 2- Brett Yuzik (CHA); 3- Brayden Campbell (GFR).

Patrick Thibault

Scoring
1st
No Scoring
2nd
4:18 CHA Will Clark (4) ASST: Malcolm MacDonald (5)

10:12 GFR Mathis Cyr (4) ASST: Loic Francoeur (8), Brayden Campbell (7) (PP)

15:48 GFR Loic Francoeur (7) ASST: Reid Calder (3), Jonah Leard (11)

16:13 GFR Oliver Plante (5) ASST: Brayden Campbell (8), Brody Pare (3)

18:04 GFR Oliver Plante (6) ASST: Brayden Campbell (9), Brody Pare (4)

19:24 CHA Cohen McCallum (4) ASST: Jack Hayne (19), Ben Cross (10)

3rd
6:17 CHA Brett Yuzik (3) ASST: Jean-Christophe Gemme (6), Mason Cook (3)

9:58 GFR Zackarie Michaud (6) ASST: Julien Avignon-Bourque (6)