BOUCTOUCHE – The West Kent Steamers broke a 1-1 tie late in the first period by scoring five unanswered goals, leading them to a 6-1 victory Sunday night on home ice against the Grand Falls Rapids.
Special teams was a major factor in the contest as the Steamers scored twice on the power play and once while playing shorthanded.
Damon Englehutt led the way offensively for West Kent with a 2g 2a performance.
The loss, the third in a row for the Rapids, leaves them with 17 points in the Eastlink North division standings with a record of 7 wins, 11 losses and 3 shootout defeats.
Take note that it was the sixth meeting this season between both teams. West Kent has won 5 of those contests.
The Steamers got on the board early in the game, scoring at 1:48. Bennett Kuhnlein, with a wrister to the top cormer of the net, was the recipient of the goal.
The Rapids replied quickly however with Jonah Leard’s 5th tally of the season at 4:12. Colin Parker assisted on the tying goal.
Then with 41 seconds remaining in the opening frame, Damon Englehutt scored his first of the night while his team was playing with the man advantage. His one-timer gave West Kent a 2-1 lead after twenty minutes of play.
The Steamers got into penalty trouble during the second half of the second period, but the Rapids could not cash in. Instead, the Steamers added their third goal of the night while playing shorthanded at 14:08. While forcing entry in the Rapids’ crease, Adam Pinksen was able to slide the puck under netminder Gio DiMattia.
At 15:56, it was the Steamers’ turn to go on the power play, and they took advantage by adding a 4th goal. Damon Englehutt scored his second of the night and his 9th of the season on a one-timer from the slot.
West Kent scored two more goals in the final frame, coming from Adam Pinksen, his second of the game, at 35 seconds. Samuel Massé added the 6th goal at 5:28 following a rebound in front of the Grand Falls net.
West Kent sent 33 shots on net in comparison to 23 for the Rapids.
Olivier Dallaire was the winning goaltender, bringing his record to 5 wins and 3 losses on the season.
The Rapids will play three games in three days next weekend. They will host the Campbellton Tigers on Friday night before going on the road to Fredericton on Saturday. Then on Sunday afternoon at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre, the Rapids will square off with the Amherst Ramblers.
GAME NOTES:
*The Rapids went 0 for 5 on the power play while West Kent scored 2 PP goals on 4 opportunities with the man advantage.
*Game attendance: 610
*Three stars of the game: 1- Damon Englehutt (WKS); 2- Adam Pinksen (WKS); Samuel Massé (WKS)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
1st
1:48 WKS Bennett Kuhnlein (7) ASST: Damon Englehutt (8), Bailey Shortall (3)
4:12 GFR Jonah Leard (5) ASST: Colin Parker (4)
19:19 WKS Damon Englehutt (8) ASST: Olivier Beaudoin (17), Cam White (9) (PP)
2nd
14:08 WKS Adam Pinksen (5) ASST: None (SH)
15:56 WKS Damon Englehutt (9) ASST: Samuel Massé (18) (PP)
3rd
0:35 WKS Adam Pinksen (6) ASST: Brandon Clarke (3), Olivier Beaudoin (18)
5:28 WKS Samuel Massé (7) ASST: Damon Englehutt (9)