The Rapids returned to action last weekend, playing their first games in a span of 12 days since their last outing on November 3rd.
Since they did pick up some crucial points in the standings during that stretch of games on home ice, we had to see if the team would pick up where they left off.
It’s hard to answer if those two losses over the weekend can be attributed to the inactive period. However, it’s easy to say that it quite wasn’t the same squad that could make remarkable comebacks and shut the door when needed.
It was particularly on special teams where we saw some concerns over the weekend. Only one power play goal was scored in a total of 11 opportunities while giving up 3 PP tallies to their opponents as well as two shorthanded goals to the Edmundston Blizzard on Friday night.
The offense and especially the power play unit couldn’t find the same creativity where the team left off a couple weeks before.
Those two losses leave the Rapids with 12 points, tied for 5th in the EastLink North standings, tied with the Fredericton Red Wings. Both teams are 8 points back of the MiramichiTimberwolves for the fourth and final playoff spot in the division.
The Rapids will play their next game on Wednesday night as they host the EdmundstonBlizzard at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
Grand Falls will then finish the month with three games on the road, including an important matchup against the Red Wings on November 28.
The Rapids have scored the fewest goals in the league this season (57). However, there have been some good production up front from some key players, notably Jonah Leard who leads the team in scoring with 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points. Caleb MacDonald is second in goal-scoring with 8g.
To get back on the winning track and push for a playoff spot, the Rapids will have to get more production offensively and earn some important points against divisional foes. It isn’t too late of course. It is important to note however that their three next opponents (Edmundston, Amherst and West-Kent) all have winning records. There is nothing better to prove than to show that they can compete against those teams, as they did in October.
Patrick Thibault
TEAM NEWS AND STATS
*The Rapids’ home record this season is 3 wins, 5 regulation time losses and 4 shootout defeats for a total of 10 points.
On the road, Grand Falls has a record of 1 win and 5 losses for 2 points.
*The Rapids are 5th in their division with a power play efficiency of 11.1%. Two weeks ago, their PP percentage was at 13.6%.
As for the penalty kill, Grand Falls has improved in that department with an efficiency of 79.3%, which ranks the team in 4th spot in their division.
*The Rapids are ranked 7th in the league in penalty minutes with 425 min. Summerside still leads the league in that department with a total of 739 penalty minutes.
*Jonah Leard leads the team in power play goals with 5. He also leads in game-winning goals with 2.
*Goaltender Adam Lecours is 10th in the league in save percentage with 0.897. Lecours has a goals-against average of 4.10 in 849 minutes between the pipes this season.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE:
*The Edmundston Blizzard remain the leaders in the EastLink North division standings with a record of 19 wins, 2 losses and 1 overtime defeat for a total of 39 points.
The West Kent Steamers are in second spot with a record of 12-6-1 for 25 points, having won 6 of their last 10 games on the schedule.
The Campbellton Tigers are third with 22points, followed by Miramichi (20 points) while Fredericton and Grand Falls complete the standings with 12 points each.
The Summerside Western Capitals have a 12-point lead over the Amherst Ramblers in the EastLink South division. Following in order are Yarmouth (19 points), Truro and Pictou County (17 points) and Valley (16 points).
*Robbie Rutledge of the Summerside Western Capitals is the league’s leading scorer with a record of 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points. Philippe Collette of the Edmundston Blizzard is second with 10 goals and 22 assists for 32points while two players are tied with 31 points: Dominik Godin of Summerside (19g 12a) and Lucas Canning of Pictou County (14g 17a).
*Simon Boucher of Edmundston leads all goaltenders with a goals-against average of2.75.
He is followed by two netminders from the Summerside Western Capitals: Niko Boudreau (2.94) and George Gallant (3.04).
THE RAPIDS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
*Wednesday November 20: Edmundston at Rapids (7:15 pm)
*Saturday November 23: Rapids at Amherst(7:00 pm)
*Sunday November 24: Rapids at West Kent (4:00 pm)