RAPIDS TIE TEAM RECORD WITH 21st VICTORY

BATHURST – Sparked by great goaltending and another offensive outburst, the Grand Falls Rapids earned their second win in a row as they defeated the Eastlink division leading Chaleur Lightning by a 6-4 score Saturday night in Bathurst.
Loic Francoeur and Brody Pare both led the way with two goals each while netminder Adam Lecours came up with 28 saves, including 13 in the final twenty minutes of play.

Special teams played a difference in the outcome of the game as Grand Falls scored twice with the man advantage while adding a goal while playing shorthanded.
It was the Rapids 21st win of the season, which ties the team record established during the 2022-2023 campaign.

The Rapids got off to an explosive start by scoring the game’s first two goals. Loic Francoeur tallied his first goal of the game at 16:32 while Grand Falls was on the power play. Then at 18:46, Nathan Plamondon-Michaud scored his 20th goal of the season on a perfect shot that went over the glove of Lightning goaltender Jack Flanagan.
However, Chaleur came out strong into the second period, tying the contest with two quick goals. Easton Adrian (power play) and Brett Yuzik scored before the 2-minute mark of the frame.

Grand Falls jumped back into the lead midway in the game. Loic Francoeur’s shot found the top corner of the net at 9:36 on the power play while Patrick Baxter added the Rapids’ fourth goal on a breakaway at the 11-minute mark while his team was playing with a man short.
Ben Cross reduced the margin for Chaleur, but Bordy Pare made it 5-3 for Grand Falls with under a minute remaining in the period.
Dax Fraser scored for the Lightning early in the third period but Pare added his second goal of the game at 18:02, an insurance tally that gave the Rapids the victory, their fourth this season against Chaleur.
Shots on goal were 32 to 30 in favor of Chaleur.

The Rapids’ record now stands at 21-13-6 for 48 points as they jump into second place in the Eastlink North division standings with 1-point back of Chaleur for the top spot.

EXTRA NOTES

*Loic Francoeur (2g 1a) and Patrick Baxter (1g 2a) both finished the game with 3 points for the Rapids while Brody Pare (2g) and Coen Miller (2a) also contributed offensively.
Easton Adrian was the leading scorer for Chaleur with a 1g 2a performance.

*Grand Falls scored 2 goals on 5 power play opportunities while Chaleur finished 2 for 4.

*Three stars of the game: 1- Easton Adrian (CHA); 2- Loic Francoeur (GFR); Brody Pare (GFR)

Patrick Thibault

Scoring
1st
16:32 GFR Loic Francoeur (16) ASST: Coen Miller (27) (PP)

18:46 GFR Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (20) ASST: Patrick Baxter (10)

2nd
0:45 CHA Easton Adrian (6) ASST: None (PP)

1:24 CHA Brett Yuzik (10) ASST: Tyson Snow (20), Easton Adrian (6)

9:36 GFR Loic Francoeur (17) ASST: Coen Miller (28), Jonah Leard (34) (PP)

11:31 GFR Patrick Baxter (12) ASST: None (SH)

11:32 CHA Ben Cross (28) ASST: Easton Adrian (7), Carter Bromley (21) (PP)

19:02 GFR Brody Pare (7) ASST: Loic Francoeur (27), Patrick Baxter (11)

3rd
4:16 CHA Dax Fraser (1) ASST: Jayden Burtt-Munn (8), Mason Cook (7)

18:02 GFR Brody Pare (8) ASST: None

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