Sometimes, we do tend to overlook the big picture or the short-term goal prior to a team road trip. The outcome is normally how we grade the team and deliver our final thoughts and judgment on their performance.
In the Rapids case last weekend, the task wasn’t easy as they had to play two second place teams within their respective divisions.
A .500 record is most certainly acceptable, but Sunday afternoon’s loss might let us wonder if we could have been happier with a little more.
Playing the ‘What If’ game is always easy, but we can never overlook the levels of intensity, effort and determination that can be put into a certain task. If we compare what the Rapids accomplished the previous weekend, compared to the two games played this past weekend, there is a big difference on how we see the team at this very moment.
It was a tough loss for sure against West Kent as the Rapids held a two-goal lead through twenty minutes of play but couldn’t hang on. And the way the game ended, with the team playing with great discipline throughout, it was even harder to swallow. However, we mustapplaud the effort and if holding on to leads has been difficult for this group, they will learn from this. And they know that they can compete with any team within the league by staying disciplined and focused to the game plan, getting superb goaltending and taking advantage of their chances to get on the board.
As for Saturday night’s contest in Amherst, it was certainly fun to watch! Neither the Ramblers nor the Rapids’ fans would have expected such an outburst from a team thathas struggled this season to fill the net. Jeremy D’Astous was outstanding with a 2g 4aperformance. Patrick Baxter also scored a pair while Adam Lecours, with some key saves, was maybe responsible for the team staging a comeback in the opening period after Amherst had jumped to a 2-0 lead early. It was the Rapids’ best offensive performance of the season, and it came at the right time, ending the team’s 4-game winless streak.
The Rapids are currently in 5th spot in the EastLink North division, 1-point ahead of the Fredericton Red Wings which they meet on Thursday night in the provincial capital. Both teams will have to add some points to the standings as the Miramichi Timberwolves have won 6 of their last 10 games and have a 12-point lead over Grand Falls for the 4th and final playoff spot available.
Let’s say it was a much better weekend for the Rapids and even though they could have added a point or two to the standings, there is certainly a boost of confidence that was gainedleading on to the next few games before the holiday break.
Patrick Thibault
TEAM NEWS AND STATS
*The Rapids will play their final game of the month on Thursday night as they travel to Fredericton. Their record thus far in November is 2 wins, 4 regulation time losses and 1 shootout defeat for a total of 5 points. The Rapids also collected 5 points in October with a record of 1 win, 4 losses and 3 shootout defeats.
*The Rapids have improved on their power play efficiency since last week. Going 3 for 11 on the PP last weekend, the Rapids now have a percentage of 17.8% compared to 11.1% last week.
As for the penalty kill, the Rapids hold an efficiency of 77.8%, which ranks the team in 3rd spot in their division.
*The Rapids are now ranked 8th in the league in penalty minutes with 467 min. Last week, Grand Falls was ranked 7th.
*Jeremy D’Astous had a great week offensively with a performance of 3 goals and 6 assists for 9 points in three games. He finished with 1g 1a last Wednesday against the Blizzard, collected 2g 4a Saturday in Amherst and added 1 assist on Sunday against West Kent.
D’Astous is now 10th in the league in scoring with 8 goals and 22 assists for 30 points.
Jonah Leard is second in team scoring and 16thin the league with a record of 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points.
*Goaltender Adam Lecours is 12th in the league in goals-against average with 4.16 and 8th in the league in save percentage at .899.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE:
*The Edmundston Blizzard have a 12-point lead on the West Kent Steamers for top spot in the EastLink North division standings.
Edmundston has a total of 41 points, followed in order by West Kent (29pts), Campbellton and Miramichi (26pts), the Rapids (14pts) and Fredericton (13pts).
The Summerside Western Capitals (40pts)have an 18-point lead over the Amherst Ramblers (22pts) in the EastLink South division. Following in order are Yarmouth (21points), Truro and Pictou County (19 pointseach) and Valley (16 points).
*Dominik Godin of the Summerside Western Capitals has taken over the lead in the scoring race with a record of 24 goals and 16 assists for 40 points. His teammate Robbie Rutledge is second with 15 goals and 23 assists for 38points.
Lucas Canning of Pictou County is third with 18g and 19a for 37pts, followed by Philippe Collette of the Edmundston Blizzard (11g 24a 35pts).
*George Gallant of Summerside has the league’s best goals-against average at 2.75.
The leader in saves percentage is Alexis Cournoyer of Truro (0.919).
THE RAPIDS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
*Thursday November 28: Rapids at Fredericton(7:00 pm)
*Sunday December 1st : Pictou County at Rapids (3:00 pm)