RAPIDS WIN 9 IN A ROW; WILL PLAY FOR FIRST PLACE ON SUNDAY
GRAND FALLS – Facing the last place team in the Eastlink North division standings, the Grand Falls Rapids had their hands full on Friday night but prevailed by a 3-2 score for their 9th consecutive victory.
With Edmundston’s defeat on Friday against Chaleur, the Rapids now have sole possession of second spot in the division and could finish first with a win on Sunday in the regular season finale in Bouctouche against the West Kent Steamers.
The Rapids never trailed in this contest, but the visiting Miramichi Timberwolves came within one goal in the third period of tying the score, thus putting the winning streak in jeopardy.
It was another great defensive showing by Greg Leland’s squad who outshot Miramichi 31 to 26. Adam Lecours earned his 24th victory of the season between the pipes, stopping 24 shots.
It was a couple of defensemen who got the Rapids on the scoreboard in the opening period, both times on screen shots coming from the point. Nathan Dubreuil scored his first goal of the season at 2:42 to put the Rapids ahead while Anton Topilnyckyj tallied his 5th of the campaign at 6:18.
Teams traded goals in the middle frame as the Timberwolves outshot the Rapids 11-9. Austin Wlaker scored while Miramichi was playing shorthanded at 6:37. But on the same penalty, Bailey Shortall added Grand Falls’ third goal, on the power play, following a rebound in front of the net. It was Shortall’s 13th of the season.
Charles-Olivier Giguère reduced the margin to 3-2, scoring at 4:09. Timberwolves’ netminder Zach Ericson made some brilliant saves, keeping his team in the game, but the Rapids prevailed for their 30th victory of the season.
A crowd of 1023 came to see the Rapids play their last regular season game. The next time they will come to the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre to cheer on their team will be for a MetalFab Cup playoff game, hopefully with the Rapids having home ice advantage. We will know the answer on Sunday following the game between Grand Falls and West Kent which will start at 6pm in Bouctouche.
ADITIONNAL NOTES
*Before the start of the game, eight players were celebrated as they were playing their last regular season game for the Rapids, due to age eligibility. Those players were: Forwards Bailey Shortall, Nathan Plamondon-Michaud and Loïc Francoeur. Defensemen Conor Ryan, Anton Topilnyckyj, Isaac Allard and Mathis Cyr, and goaltender Adam Lecours.
*Once again, defenseman Mathis Cyr made some key blocks during a critical power play for Miramichi late in the third period. Cyr has made many of such blocks this season, notably when his team was playing shorthanded.
*Three stars of the game: 1- Anton Topilnyckyj (GFR); 2- Zach Ericson (MIR); 3- Mathis Cyr (GFR)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 2:42 | GFR | Nathan Dubreuil (1) ASST: Dereck Asselin (16) | |
| 6:18 | GFR | Anton Topilnyckyj (5) ASST: Loic Francoeur (38), Coen Miller (38) | |
| 2nd | |||
| 6:37 | MIR | Austin Walker (8) ASST: None (SH) | |
| 7:30 | GFR | Bailey Shortall (13) ASST: Mathis Cyr (17) (PP) | |
| 3rd | |||
| 4:09 | MIR | Charles-Olivier Giguère (18) ASST: Félix Tremblay (5) |