RAPIDS WIN 7th STRAIGHT ON HOME ICE

GRAND FALLS – The Rapids scored five unanswered goals in the opening frame, holding on to a 7-3 victory Friday night against the Edmundston Blizzard.
A total of 1051 spectators were on hand to witness the Rapids’ 8th victory of the season and their 7th consecutive win on home ice as they remain undefeated at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.

The Rapids came out strong in the first twenty minutes of play, dominating the Blizzard in every facet of the game, including puck battles along the boards and time of possession.
Loic Francoeur was first to score at the 4-minute mark on a scramble in front of the net following a faceoff win in Blizzard territory. It was Francoeur’s 6th goal of the season.

Jonah Leard added Grand Falls’ second goal at the mid-way point of the period following a rebound in front of the net. Then came defenseman Anton Topilnyckyj’s first of the season at 11:28 on a wrist shot that beat Blizzard goalkeeper Rylan Benner.
Jonah Leard scored his second of the game and his 6th of the season at 14:37, a power play tally for the Rapids. Then Reid Calder added the 5th goal at 16:37 on a one-timer from the slot.
Edmundson got on the board with less than two minutes remaining on a goal from Zachary Robichaud.
The Rapids held a 5-1 lead over their Northwestern rivals after twenty minutes of play.

Momentum shifted completely in the middle frame as the Blizzard dominated their opponents in shots on goal (11-2) while scoring twice to cut the Rapids’ lead to two goals. Jake MacDonald at 1:28 and Charles-Eric Tremblay both scored for the visitors.
The Rapids came out stronger in the final frame, limiting Edmundston to only 6 shots on goal. They also added a pair, coming from Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (his 7th of the season) on a breakaway at 16:46 and from Mathis Cyr on a power play at 18:29.

The Rapids will try to make it 8 wins in a row on home ice on Sunday afternoon as they host the Pictou County Weeks Crushers. Puck drop is at 3pm at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.

EXTRA NOTES …

*The Rapids now move into second place in the Eastlink North division standings with 17 points, one point behind the Chaleur Lightning.

*Adam Lecours picked up his 6th victory of the season between the pipes, making a total of 23 saves.
Cedric Massé was the Edmundston netminder after the Rapids’ 5th goal.

*Jonah Leard tied the franchise record for most points in one game with 5, finishing with 2 goals and 3 assists.

*The three stars of the game were in order: 1- Jonah Leard (GFR); 2- Anton Topilnyckyj (GFR); 3- Mathis Cyr (GFR)

Patrick Thibault

Scoring
1st
4:05 GFR Loic Francoeur (6) ASST: Reid Calder (2), Jonah Leard (8)

10:22 GFR Jonah Leard (5) ASST: Anton Topilnyckyj (5)

11:28 GFR Anton Topilnyckyj (1) ASST: Patrick Baxter (2), Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (6)

14:37 GFR Jonah Leard (6) ASST: Loic Francoeur (6), Mathis Cyr (6) (PP)

16:37 GFR Reid Calder (3) ASST: Jonah Leard (9)

18:51 EDM Zachary Robichaud (3) ASST: Alex Thibault (2), Eliott Guenette (2) (PP)

2nd
1:28 EDM Jake MacDonald (1) ASST: Darien Thomson (7)

12:12 EDM Charles-Éric Tremblay (4) ASST: Eliott Guenette (3)

3rd
16:46 GFR Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (7) ASST: None

18:29 GFR Mathis Cyr (2) ASST: Jonah Leard (10) (PP)