Despite bringing their current streak to five games without a victory, the Rapids did manage over the weekend to pick up 2 points to a tight race for fourth spot in the EastLinkNorth standings. Only 4 points separate the 6thplace team (Grand Falls) with the 4th position squad (Campbellton) for the final playoff position available come season’s end.
What was more important however is the way the Rapids managed to pick up those precious points, coming from behind on two occasions late in the third period.
Actually, it felt like a scene from an old good movie where everything seemed to repeat itself from start to finish. On Friday night against the Miramichi Timberwolves, Grand Falls saw its opponent score four unanswered goals in the third period as the Timberwolves were up by two goals. Then with under 5 minutes remining in regulation time, Raphael Michaud and Jeremy D’Astous tied the game to bring the contest into extra time.
Then on Sunday against the first place Blizzard, Grand Falls gave up three consecutive goals in the third period as Edmundstonjumped to a 5-2 lead with under 5 minutes remaining. Then the Rapids stormed back with three unanswered tallies; Jonah Leard, Derek Bird and Brayden Campbell lifted the crowd that stayed to the end, sending the game into overtime.
It would have been great of course if one of those tilts had resulted in a win. But if we were ever looking for positive things to happen on the offensive front, this might be the trigger to a rejuvenated offence that had production coming from more than one line over the weekend.
More pressure was applied in the offensive zone, more shots were taken from the point and the team was never in a quit mode even when momentum shifted against them. It wasthe perfect example of a team playing with confidence and a purpose to get things turned around.
With such parity being displayed this season in the EastLink North, it is vital to pick up points against squads from its own division. That’s what the Rapids did over the weekend, and it could be a sign of better things to come.
They will be facing the South leading Summerside Western Capitals on Friday night, a contest where the Rapids will have another opportunity to prove that they can rival against the best teams in the league. Then on Sunday, it will be a crucial matchup against the Fredericton Red Wings who are currently 1 point ahead of Grand Falls in the standings.
It will also be the last two games of the 8-game homestand. The Rapids will then play their next five games out of six against teams within their own division, including three on the road.
As for the weekend games, heads up to the fans: make sur not to leave too early… this bunch never quits!
Patrick Thibault
TEAM NEWS AND STATS
*Here’s an interesting statistic underlininggoals scored and allowed by the Rapids during each period played thus far this season:
GOALS FOR
1st period: 11
2nd period: 16
3rd period: 17
Extra time: 0
*TOTAL: 44 goals for
GOALS AGAINST
1st period: 18
2nd period: 19
3rd period: 21
Extra time: 3
*TOTAL: 61 goals against
As indicated, the Rapids have been involved in 29 goals in the first period (11 for and 18 against) and a total of 38 goals in the third period (17 for and 21 against).
The third period has been the most open offensively with goals scored.
*The Rapids went a combined 1 for 5 on the power play over the two weekend games. Their PP efficiency now stands at 14.8%, which is better than Miramichi (13.8%) and Campbellton (10.7%), as well as Yarmouth from the EastLink South (14.3%).
Grand Falls’ penalty kill is second-best in the North at 82.0%. Edmundston leads in that department with 88.1%.
*Jeremy D’Astous still leads the team in scoring with 4 goals and 15 assists for 19points. Jonah Leard is second with a record of 10 goals and 7 assists for 17 points. Caleb MacDonald (6g 4a) is third with 10 points.
Leard leads the team in power play goals (5) and game winning goals (2).
NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE:
*The Edmundston Blizzard remain the leadersin the EastLink North division standings with a record of 16 wins and only 1 loss for 32 points. They are 15 points better than the second-place team, the West Kent Steamers who total 17 points.
Miramichi (14pts), Campbellton (13pts), Fredericton (10pts) and Grand Falls (9pts) complete the standings.
The Summerside Western Capitals have an 8-point lead over the Amherst Ramblers in the EastLink South division. Following in order are Valley, Pictou County, Yarmouth and Truro.
*Philippe Collette of the Edmundston Blizzard is the league’s leading scorer with a record of 9 goals and 19 assists for 28 points.
Brett Arsenault of Summerside is second with 12g 14a for 26pts.
*Four goaltenders have posted thus far a goals-against average under 3.00. They are:Austin Caley of Truro (1.50), Jack Howatt of Edmundston (2.20), Simon Boucher of Edmundston (2.48) and Niko Boudreau of Summerside (2.50).
THE RAPIDS UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
*Friday November 1st: Summerside at Rapids(7:00 pm)
*Sunday November 3: Fredericton at Rapids(3:00 pm)