The Rapids played for a .500 record last week, winning on the road but dropping a close encounter on home ice.
The good news is that the team has a 3-point cushion on the Fredericton Red Wings for 5thspot in the EastLink North division standings. The bad news is that the Rapids are 12 points behind the Miramichi Timberwolves who hold the 4th and final playoff spot available to take part in the playoffs.
Even though we are a bit early to think about the playoffs, we do have to consider how talking about it could affect the composition of the team in the upcoming weeks. And it’s the same for each and every MHL organization who will have to decide shortly if they become either ‘buyers’ or ‘sellers’ before the trade deadline. Of course, the talented 20-year-olds will be sought after by competing teams.
It would be hard to imagine having the Rapids get through the end of the regular season without some of their veteran players since they all have contributed to some key wins during the past month.
It has been the case with 20-year-old Jeremy D’Astous who is on a hot streak lately, addinganother 5 points to his record last week as he is currently ranked 6th in the league with 35 points. Defenseman Raphael Denis (20pts) is also a 20-year-old who has been a dominant force at the blue line while adding some depth up front, notably on the power play.
But take note that on Thursday night in Fredericton, it was two 2006-born players, Jonah Leard and Derek Bird, who led the wayoffensively in a 6-1 victory over the Red Wings.Both scored a pair of goals while 2005-born Nathan Rhodes also filled out the scoresheet.
Which means that the Rapids can depend on some talented young players up front for the upcoming season. Only two defensemen (Denis and Will Morrison) are playing their last season of eligibility while goaltenders Adam Lecours (2005) and Loic Nadeau (2006) are both eligible for a return to the team next season.
In all, six players for the Rapids (4 forwards and 2 defensemen) are playing their last campaigns in the MHL in 2024-2025.
It’s also too early for the Rapids’ organization on what to decide come trade deadline, but different scenarios have to be put in place in order to finish the season on a positive note.
As we are fast approaching the mid-way point of the season, it will be a tough battle for the team to try to get in position for a playoff run, but it can still be done if the Rapids can pull out a winning record in December.
GAME RESULTS:
The Rapids dominated the Fredericton Red Wings in every facet of the game on Thursday night, outshooting them 41 to 28 while outscoring their opponents by a score of 6-1. Grand Falls scored three times in the opening period and added two more in the middle frame to secure their 6th victory of the season.
Then on Sunday afternoon, it was three unanswered goals by Pictou County in the second period that broke a 2-2 tie and led them to a 5-4 win over the Rapids who came close to tying the game but had to settle for another tough loss.
The Rapids will be in action three times on the road in the upcoming week. On Thursday they travel to PEI to meet the South division leading Summerside Western Capitals. Then they are in West Kent on Friday night before ending the week on Sunday afternoon in Campbellton against the Tigers.
Patrick Thibault
TEAM NEWS AND STATS
*The Rapids have a record of 6 wins, 13 losses and 4 extra time defeats for a total of 16 points.
Their home record is 3-7-4 for 10 points while on the road they are 3-6-0 for 6 points.
In November, their record was 3 wins, 4 losses and 1 shootout loss for 7 points in total.
*The Rapids have greatly improved on their penalty minutes total as they are now ranked 4th in their division and 9th in the league with 506 penalty minutes.
*The Rapids have also improved on their power play efficiency as they are now ranked 3rd in the EastLink North division at 20.2%. Their penalty kill has however dropped to 5th in their division at 77.6%.
*Jeremy D’Astous continues to lead the team in scoring with 9 goals and 26 assists for 35 points. D’Astous is also ranked 6th in the league this week among top scorers.
Jonah Leard is second in team scoring and first in goals scored with a record of 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points.
*Goaltender Adam Lecours remains 12th in the league in goals-against average with 4.03.Lecours is also 7th in save percentage at 0.902.
Loic Nadeau has a goals-against average of 3.80 in 5 games between the pipes. His save percentage is at 0.907.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE:
*The Edmundston Blizzard (45pts) have a 12-point lead on the West Kent Steamers (33pts)for top spot in the EastLink North division standings.
Following in order are Campbellton (29pts),Miramichi (28pts), the Rapids (16pts) and Fredericton (13pts).
The Summerside Western Capitals (42pts)have a 16-point lead over the Amherst Ramblers (26pts) in the EastLink South division. Following in order are Pictou County (24pts), Truro (23pts), Yarmouth (21pts) and Valley (16pts).
*Dominik Godin of the Summerside Western Capitals is still first in the MHL scoring racewith a record of 25 goals and 18 assists for 43points. His teammate Robbie Rutledge is second with 17 goals and 24 assists for 41points.
Lucas Canning of Pictou County is third with 20g and 20a for 40pts, followed by Philippe Collette of the Edmundston Blizzard (12g 27a 39pts).
*George Gallant of Summerside has the league’s best goals-against average at 2.60 and also the best save percentage at 0.922.
THE RAPIDS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
*Thursday December 5: Rapids at Summerside(7:00 pm)
*Friday December 6: Rapids at West Kent (7:30 pm)
*Sunday December 8: Rapids at Campbellton(3:00 pm)