GRAND FALLS – The Rapids came from behind from a 3-goal deficit in the third period, but the Valley Wildcats added three goals before the end of the frame, skating away with a 6-3 victory at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre on a snowy Friday night in Grand Falls.
For the Wildcats, it was a 6th consecutive victory and a 15th on the season as they find themselves in third place in the Eastlink South division standings with 34 points.
Valley scored three times in the second period to grab a 3-0 lead. The Rapids’ comeback was initiated by the 17th goal of the season from Yannic Bastarache at the 1-minute mark of the period. Bastarache scored on a rebound from a shot coming from the stick of Mathis Huot who played a strong game for Grand Falls.
Then Ben Diamond, with his 16th of the season, cut Valley’s lead to one goal at 12:46 on a shot top shelf. Newcomer Josh Russell tied the game at 15:47 on a tip between the goaltender’s pads. It was Russell’s first tally as a member of the Rapids.
Less than a minute later, the Wildcats came back to regain the lead on a 2 on 0 break which resulted from a blocked shot. Ethan Landry was credited with the goal at 16:05.
Brendan MacRitchie (empty net) and Jason Kwestel completed the scoring for the visitors in the last minute of play of the contest. For Kwestel, it was his third goal of the night and his 19th of the season. He was the one who gave Valley a 2-0 lead early in the second period with goals coming 37 seconds apart. Brendan MacRitchie scored his first of the night at 14:41 to give the Wildcats a 3-0 edge through two periods of play.
No goals were scored in the opening period.
Valley finished the game with a slight advantage in shots on goal: 39 to 37.
For the Rapids, it was an 8th consecutive loss as their record on the season now stands at 14 wins and 16 defeats.
They will be on the road Saturday as they travel to PEI for a 7pm contest against the Summerside Western Capitals.
Patrick Thibault
GAME NOTES:
*Jason Kwestel (3 goals) and Ethan Landry (1g 2a) each finished the game with 3 points for the Widlcats.
Ben Diamond (1g 1a) and Mathis Huot (3a) both led the way offensively for Grand Falls.
*Both teams went scoreless on the power play. Only 5 minor penalties were assessed in the game: 3 minors to the Rapids and 2 for Valley.
*Game attendance: 544 spectators
*Three stars of the game: 1- Brendan MacRitchie (VAL); 2- Mathis Huot (GFR); 3- Jason Kwestel (VAL)
Scoring
1st
No Scoring
2nd
1:12 VAL Jason Kwestel (17) ASST: None
1:49 VAL Jason Kwestel (18) ASST: Ethan Kearney (16), Ethan Landry (25)
14:41 VAL Brendan MacRitchie (13) ASST: Cole Foston (8)
3rd
1:00 GFR Yannic Bastarache (17) ASST: Ben Diamond (16), Mathis Huot (14)
12:46 GFR Ben Diamond (16) ASST: Mathis Huot (15), Jack Dickie (7)
15:47 GFR Josh Russell (1) ASST: Mathis Huot (16), Jack Dickie (8)
16:05 VAL Ethan Landry (10) ASST: Ethan Kearney (17)
19:01 VAL Brendan MacRitchie (14) ASST: None (EN)
19:16 VAL Jason Kwestel (19) ASST: Dylan Chisholm (8), Ethan Landry (26)
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