SUMMERSIDE (PEI) – Led by five power play goals and a 24-save shutout performance by goaltender Chad Arsenault, the Summerside Western Capitals skated away with a 6-0 victory Thursday night on home ice against the Grand Falls Rapids.
Marc Richard led the way offensively with two goals while defenseman Ed McNeill finished the game with 1 goal and 3 assists.
With the win, Summerside is now tied with Edmundston atop the Eastlink North division standings with 37 points. As for the Rapids, they still trail the Miramichi Timberwolves by 4 points for 4th spot in the division.
It was a tough night offensively for the Rapids as they could only register 12 shots in total during the first two periods of play. They had a much better third period in that department, sending 12 shots on net.
Special teams made the difference for Summerside while the Rapids were shutout on the PP, going 0 for 4.
The Western Capitals scored early in the first period and a late goal at the end of the frame had them up by a score of 2-0 after twenty minutes of play.
Ed McNeill opened the scoring at 1:56, sending a shot past netminder Frederic Plourde. It happened to be Summerside’s only goal scored at even strength. DonHeaven Veilleux added the second goal at 19:36 on a shot from the point while his team was playing with the man advantage.
Summerside dominated the middle frame, scoring three power play goals in the last six minutes of play. Marc Richard tallied his first of the night at 14:17 with a wrister from the top of the faceoff circle following a cross-ice pass from Sid McNeill. Trentyn Crane added the fourth Western Capitals’ goal at 17:40 after he came up speeding from his own blue line, sending a shot past Plourde. Then at 19:18, Marc Richard added his second goal of the game and his 28th of the season, giving Summerside a 5-0 lead through two periods of play.
Only one goal was scored in the third period, which came at 10:51 on Connor Keough’s power play tally.
Summerside finished the game with a 28 to 24 advantage in shots on goal.
Newcomer Josh Russell, acquired at the beginning of the week, was making his Rapids’ debut on Thursday. Other acquisitions made by the team this week should also be joining the team shortly.
The Rapids (14 wins and 13 losses) return to action on Friday night as they travel to Campbellton to face the Tigers for a 7:00 pm contest. Their next home game will be on Friday January 13th as they host the Valley Wildcats.
Patrick Thibault
GAME NOTES:
*Marc Richard’s two goals came on the power play, giving him 15 PP goals on the season which is tops in the league in that department.
Summerside leads the league as a team in power play goals with 45.
*Game attendance: 505 spectators
*Three stars of the game: 1- JD Shoniker (SWC); 2- Ed McNeill (SWC); 3- Marc Richard (SWC)
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 1:56 | SWC | Ed McNeill (11) ASST: JD Shoniker (3), Trentyn Crane (29) | |
| 19:36 | SWC | DonHeaven Veilleux (4) ASST: Lincoln Waugh (10), JD Shoniker (4) (PP) | |
| 2nd | |||
| 14:17 | SWC | Marc Richard (27) ASST: JD Shoniker (5), Sid McNeill (18) (PP) | |
| 17:40 | SWC | Trentyn Crane (15) ASST: Ed McNeill (32) (PP) | |
| 19:18 | SWC | Marc Richard (28) ASST: Ed McNeill (33), Sid McNeill (19) (PP) | |
| 3rd | |||
| 10:51 | SWC | Connor Keough (8) ASST: Ed McNeill (34), Sid McNeill (20) (PP) |