GRAND FALLS, N.-B. – The Grand Falls Rapids stormed the Blizzard defense in the final three minutes of the third period and nearly turned the tide for victory, but the Edmundston Blizzard regrouped in the shootout to win 6-5 in front of 1,060 spectators, the largest crowd of the season at the E. & P. Sénéchal Center.
When the Blizzard took a 5-2 lead with 5:07 to go in the third, it looked like the Rapids were done. Some spectators were even starting to leave the arena. From that moment on, the Rapids magic began. They scored back-to-back goals at 16:43, 17:38 and 19:34 (the last two with their goalkeeper out) to tie the game 5-5.
After five minutes of scoreless overtime, Philippe Collette finally sealed the deal by finding the back of the net in the shootout.
In regulation time, Philippe Collette (9th), Carl-Anthony Massé (7th), Darien Thomson (3rd), Alex Thibault (3rd) and Will Carroll (1st) scored for the Blizzard, who recorded their 16th win in 17 games. They are currently on a seven-game winning streak. Will Allen and Mathieu Boucher each collected two assists.
In the Grand Falls camp (3-8-0-3), the top scorers were Jonah Leard (9th and 10th), Raphaël Denis (1st and 2a), Derek Bird (2nd), Brayden Campbell (5th), Caleb MacDonald (2a) and Jérémy D’Astous (2a).
After taking a 2-0 lead at 6:32 of the second period, the Rapids managed to close the gap to create a 2-2 tie at 1:36 of the third. The Blizzard then struck with lightning speed with goals at 1:49 and 2:24 to restore their two-goal lead (4-2). In his 17th MHL game, Will Carroll scored the first goal of his career to make it 5-2 in favor of the Blizzard at 14:53.
The game’s three stars went to Blizzard’s Jérémy Fortin (1st), Rapids’ Jonah Leard (2nd) and Blizzard’s Will Allen (3rd).
The Blizzard had a 45-33 edge in shots. Goalkeepers Simon Boucher (Blizzard) and Adam Lecours (Rapides) had to shine on numerous occasions.
The Blizzard (16-1-0-0) thus completed the longest month in their history with 12 games in October, including 9 on opposing rinks. They have performed admirably well, with 11 wins and just one loss.
Nine games await the Blizzard players in November. Seven of these will be played at the Jean-Daigle Centre, including the next five (November 1, 2, 8, 15 and 17).
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Photo
Forward Will Carroll of Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, scored his first MHL career goal on Sunday in Grand Falls. Photo archives Percy Picard
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, communications – Edmundston Blizzard (506) 740-0623