GRAND FALLS – Despite scoring the first goal of the game, the Rapids could not maintain their lead as the Summerside Western Capitals skated away with a 7-3 victory Sunday afternoon at the E.&P. Sénéchal Centre.
Summerside scored three unanswered goals in the opening period after Marcellus Francis gave Grand Falls the lead at 3:37 on a breakaway. It was Francis’ 2nd tally of the season, the first one scored on Friday night in similar fashion.
Connor Keough tied the score for the visitors at 4:15 with a wrister from the slot area, then at 13:49, Reid Vos gave the Western Capitals the lead for good.
Brennan Murphy added to the lead with under 3 minutes to play in the opening frame as he took control of a loose puck in the crease.
Summerside added two goals in the second period while playing a very strong defensive game.
Robbie Rutledge scored on a two on one break at the 3-minute mark of the period, followed at 14:14 by Ryder Howatt’s 7th goal of the season, also resulting from an odd-man rush.
The Rapids did manage to reduce the margin late in the period with Jules Delepoulle’s first tally of the season which came on the power play. His shot, originating from the point, found the back of the net with traffic in front of the crease.
After two periods of play, Summerside held a 5-2 lead as shots on goal were even at 24 aside.
Blake Eastman, with his 12th of the campaign, gave the Western Capitals a 6-2 lead at 6:49 of the third period. Then at the mid-way point of the frame, Trentyn Crane picked up his third point of the game (1g 2a) as he scored his team’s 7th goal. Both goals came while Summerside was playing with the man advantage.
The Rapids added their third goal of the game, also on the power play, with less than two minutes remaining. Dominic LeBlanc scored on a one-timer, his 14th of the season and his 6th power play goal.
Summerside dominated in the shots on goal department, 33 to 28.
Brandon Abbott picked up the win between the pipes while Gio DiMattia was in net for the Rapids who now fall at 1 game under the .500 mark. Their record now stands at 4 wins, 5 losses and 2 extra time defeats for a total of 10 points, which ranks them in 5th spot in the Eastlink North division standings.
Grand Falls will be in action only once next weekend as they will host the West Kent Steamers on Friday night.
GAME NOTES:
*Trentyn Crane led the way offensively for the Western Capitals with 1g and 2a.
Jules Delepoulle was the leading scorer for the Rapids with 1g and 1a.
*Both teams scored twice on the power play.
The contest became more physical in the third period as game misconducts and major penalties were called by the referees.
*Game attendance: 911
*Three stars of the game: 1- Trentyn Crane (SWC) 2- Blake Eastman (SWC); 3- Reid Vos (SWC)
Patrick Thibault
Scoring
| 1st | |||
| 3:37 | GFR | Marcellus Francis (2) ASST: None | |
| 4:15 | SWC | Connor Keough (1) ASST: Nolan Stewart (2) | |
| 13:49 | SWC | Reid Vos (9) ASST: Ian Dickie (6) | |
| 17:38 | SWC | Brennan Murphy (3) ASST: Trentyn Crane (9), Reid Vos (7) | |
| 2nd | |||
| 3:02 | SWC | Robbie Rutledge (12) ASST: Jonah MacDonald (7), Blake Eastman (12) | |
| 14:14 | SWC | Ryder Howatt (7) ASST: Trentyn Crane (10), Jacob Squires (8) | |
| 19:24 | GFR | Jules Delepoulle (1) ASST: Tate Brenner (2), Dominic LeBlanc (7) (PP) | |
| 3rd | |||
| 6:49 | SWC | Blake Eastman (12) ASST: None (PP) | |
| 10:19 | SWC | Trentyn Crane (5) ASST: William Irvine (9) (PP) | |
| 18:24 | GFR | Dominic LeBlanc (14) ASST: Ethan Johnson (10), Jules Delepoulle (8) (PP) |