GRAND FALLS – For the second time in less than a month, the Miramichi Timberwolves scored 12 goals against the Rapids as they earned a 12-3 victory Friday night at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
The Timberwolves have scored a total of 31 goals in their last three meetings against the Rapids, thanks in large part to the dominance of their top scoring line, along with some productive contribution from the rest of their lineup.
Jeremy Duhamel and Mason Beck both scored a pair for the visitors while Daryk Dubé-Plouffe (1g 3a) and Travis Badcock (4a) each had a 4-point night. Jacob Santerre also contributed to the scoring with 1 goal and 2 assists.
It was a game to forget for the Rapids who fell early behind and never could recover to make the game a close one.
Miramichi scored four unanswered goals in the first period. Marc-Antoine Ducharme was the first one to find the back of the net at 2:03, followed by ex-Rapid Shane Delaney’s 2nd tally of the season.
Liam Travis made it 3-0 at 10:41, scoring on a rebound in front of netmider Frédéric Plourde. Then at 18:26, Mason Beck scored his first of the contest on a one-timer giving the Timberwolves a 4-0 lead through twenty minutes of play, despite being outshot 15 to 14 in the period.
As Charles-Antoine Julien came into the game to start the second period for the Rapids, Miramichi scored the first two goals as the big line got going. Daryk Dubé-Plouffe tallied his 37th of the season while Jeremy Duhamel scored his 35th, both goals coming in a span of 35 seconds early in the frame.
The Rapids finally got on the board at 3:47 on Ben Diamond’s first of the contest, as a result of a wrister from the slot.
Mason Beck then added his second of the game for Miramichi at 7:57 while his team was playing shorthanded. Then Cole MacWilliam (on a power play) added the Rapids second goal at 9:27, his 7th of the season. Maxime Madore had an assist on the goal, his first point in a Grand Falls Rapids’ uniform.
The Timberwolves answered back with three goals, including Jeremy Duhamel’s second of the game. Will Allen and Felix Landry added the other tallies as the score was 10-2 after two periods of play.
Shots on goal in the second period only were 22-21 in favour of the Timberwolves.
Ben Diamond scored his second of the game and his 27th of the season at 1:06 of the third period while his team was playing with the man advantage. Jacob Santerre and Liam Travis completed the scoring for Miramichi who was outshot 47-46 in the game.
The Rapids will try to regroup as they travel to Fredericton on Saturday to play the Red Wings, starting at 7pm at the Grant-Harvey Centre.
The Rapids return on home ice Sunday afternoon against the Campbellton Tigers (3pm).
Patrick Thibault
GAME NOTES:
*The Rapids scored twice with the man advantage in three PP opportunities. Miramichi scored once on three tries.
*Game attendance: 584 spectators
*Three stars of the game: 1- Daryk Dubé-Plouffe (MIR); 2- Jérémy Duhamel (MIR); 3- Ryan Knight (MIR)
Scoring
1st
2:03 MIR Marc-Antoine Ducharme (2) ASST: William Schofield (19), Sam McKinney (44)
9:02 MIR Shane Delaney (2) ASST: Felix Landry (37)
10:41 MIR Liam Travis (12) ASST: Will Allen (17)
18:26 MIR Mason Beck (10) ASST: Liam Travis (9)
2nd
1:14 MIR Daryk Dube-Plouffe (37) ASST: Jacob Santerre (47), Jeremy Duhamel (34)
1:49 MIR Jeremy Duhamel (35) ASST: Daryk Dube-Plouffe (55), Sam McKinney (45)
3:47 GFR Ben Diamond (26) ASST: Josh Russell (6), Mathis Huot (24)
7:57 MIR Mason Beck (11) ASST: Kaden McNeil (7) (SH)
9:27 GFR Cole MacWilliam (7) ASST: Maxime Madore (1), Bryce Thomson (8) (PP)
10:11 MIR Will Allen (5) ASST: Travis Badcock (15), Sam McKinney (46)
14:22 MIR Jeremy Duhamel (36) ASST: Daryk Dube-Plouffe (56), Jacob Santerre (48) (PP)
14:54 MIR Felix Landry (16) ASST: Marc-Antoine Ducharme (8), Travis Badcock (16)
3rd
1:06 GFR Ben Diamond (27) ASST: Adam Redding (3), Yannic Bastarache (39) (PP)
12:01 MIR Jacob Santerre (38) ASST: Travis Badcock (17), Sam McKinney (47)
14:05 MIR Liam Travis (13) ASST: Travis Badcock (18), Daryk Dube-Plouffe (57)