EDMUNDSTON, N.-B. – The special units played a decisive role in the Edmundston Blizzard’s 6-2 victory over the Grand Falls Rapids on Friday evening at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
The game was decided in the second period. At 15:59, rookie Darien Thomson (4th) broke a 1-1 tie with a shorthanded goal. Then, at 18:25, Émile Fournier (11th) gave the Blizzard a 3-1 lead on a five-man attack. From then on, the Blizzard never looked back.
Mathieu Pigeon made it 1-0 at 13:23 of the first period with his first MHL goal in his second career game. However, the Rapids evened the score at 1:02 of the second period thanks to Jonah Leard (12th).
Leading 3-1 after 40 minutes, the Blizzard saw the Rapids strike with lightning speed to start the third period. Jérémy D’Astous (5th) closed the gap to 3-2 18 seconds into the second period. However, the Blizzard struck back quickly through Nathan Plamondon (9th) at 2:08. Leading 4-2, the Blizzard completed the scoring with two empty-net goals from Émile Fournier (12th) and Justin Trottier (7th). Although the last goal was scored in a shorthanded net, it went to goalkeeper Adam Lecours, who was trying to re-instate his goal in a kind of confusion that left his team a little perplexed.
Fredericton’s Darien Thomson rounded out the scoring with a goal and an assist. His goal was his second shorthanded, a season-high for the Blizzard. He was named the game’s first star. The second star went to Carl-Anthony Massé (2a) and the third to Émile Fournier (2g).
The Blizzard overtook the Rapids in the shots column (48-24).
Simon Boucher earned his MHL best tenth win of the season in front of the Blizzard cage. He also leads the goals-against column (2.66). Adam Lecours was on duty in front of the Rapids net.
First in the Eastlink North Division, the Blizzard (19-2-0-0) will take on the West Kent Steamers (11-6-1-0), second in the same section, on Sunday November 17 (7:30 p.m.) at the Jean-Daigle Centre.
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Photo
Forward Darien Thomson (9) tries to get loose from defenseman Raphaël Denis (4) during Friday’s game at the Jean-Daigle Centre. Photo Percy Picard
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, communications – Edmundston Blizzard (506) 740-0623