The Rapids earned 4 points last week with two wins and were also awarded 2 more points due to an ineligible player on the MiramichiTimberwolves’ lineup at the beginning of the season.
That gives the Rapids 5 victories over their last 7 games, which is the best winning stretch they had all season.
The recipe doesn’t seem that complicated: discipline, teamwork and a well-rounded defensive game has been the key factors to their success lately. No player is more important than another on this squad, maybe with the exception of both goaltenders who have been phenomenal during the second part of the season. Not only do they give their team a chance to win each and every game, but their consistency between the pipes and their demeanor in close games has given confidence to a squad that really needed a boost following the trade deadline.
The product that this team is showing on the ice is very promising and a sign for good things to come in the short term.
Last Wednesday night, the Rapids held off a furious comeback by the Campbellton Tigers to win by a score of 6-5 at the E.&P. SénéchalCentre. Greg Leland’s squad took a 5-0 lead at one point but saw the Tigers climb back to within one goal with 3 minutes remaining in regulation time.
Derek Bird scored twice for Grand Falls while Adam Lecours picked up the win in net.
On Sunday afternoon, the Rapids shutout the West Kent Steamers by a score of 3-0 in front of 900 fans who were there to see the last home game of the season.
Adam Lecours earned the shutout, stopping all 37 shots he faced.
Matthew Ferdinand and Anton Topilnyckyj each finished the game with 1 goal and 1 assist. Brody Paré completed the scoring.
It was also a game where five players were acknowledged by the organization before and after the game as their junior A careers are coming to an end. Forwards Nicholas Brennan and Cole MacWilliam, as well as defensemen Will Morrison, Mathieu Martel and Paul Slivcawere honored for their services to the team.
The Rapids conclude their season this upcoming weekend with two road games on the schedule. On Friday night, they visit the Campbellton Tigers at 7pm while on Sunday (4pm), Grand Falls travels to Bouctouche to clash with the West Kent Steamers one more time.
RAPIDS’ UPCOMING GAMES
Friday March 7: Rapids vs Campbellton (7:00 pm
Sunday March 9: Rapids vs West Kent (4:00 pm)
TEAM STATS AFTER 50 GAMES
*Overall record: 16–25–9 (41 points)
*Home record: 11–11-4 (26 points)
*Away record: 5–14–5 (15 points)
*Goals scored: 154 (9th in the league)
*Goals against: 190 (5th most in the league)
*Power play goals: 35 (8th in the league)
*Shorthanded goals: 2
*Power play efficiency: 17.5% (11th in the league)
*Penalty kill: 78.7% (tied for 7th in the league)
*Penalty minutes: 1068 (5th in the league)
INDIVIDUAL STATS AFTER 50 GAMES
*Points leader: Jonah Leard (64)
*Goals: Jonah Leard (25)
*Assists: Jonah Leard (39)
*Power play goals: Jonah Leard and Derek Bird(7)
*Shorthanded goals: Patrick Baxter and Brody Pare (1)
*Winning goals: Nathan Rhodes and Jonah Leard (3)
*Goals against averages by goaltenders:
Adam Lecours (3.64) / Loic Nadeau (3.79)
LEAGUE STANDINGS (before Wednesday night’s game):
EASTLINK NORTH:
EASTLINK SOUTH:
Leading scorer: Philippe Collette (EDM) 26g57a 83pts
Best Goals against average: Austin Caley(EDM) 2.08