GRAND FALLS, N.B. – The Edmundston Blizzard had never conceded five goals in a period in its ninth season in the MHL before the Grand Falls Rapids achieved the feat tonight (Friday, October 17) and won 7-3 in a game played at the E.-and-P.-Sénéchal Centre.
The Rapids (8-3-1-0) scored the first five goals of the game in the first period. The Blizzard scored to go into the locker room trailing 5-1. The second period saw the Blizzard completely dominate the Rapids, scoring twice to cut the deficit to two goals (5-3). In the second, the Blizzard outshot the Rapids 11-2, which boded well for the third period. But the home team rallied late in the final frame to secure the win.
Jonah Leard had a stellar night with two goals and three assists. Anton Topilnyckyj, Mathis Cyr, Reid Calder, Nathan Plamondon-Michaud, and Loïc Francoeur rounded out the scoring with one goal and one assist each.
Zachary Robichaud, Charles-Éric Tremblay, and Jake MacDonald replied for the Blizzard (5-6-0-1), who suffered their third straight loss.
The Rapids fired 30 shots on goalies Rylan Benner (13 saves) and Cédric Massé (17 saves). Benner was pulled after allowing a fourth goal at 14:37 of the first period. Adam Lecours earned the win in goal for the Rapids.
Leard (1st), Topilnycky (2nd), and Cyr (3rd) were named the stars of the game.
The Blizzard will play their next game on Saturday, October 18 (7:30 p.m.) when they host the Pictou County Weeks Crushers (6-3-1-0). It will be a rematch of last season’s MHL final, which the Blizzard won in four games. The task ahead looks hard for Michael Ward’s men, considering Pictou County’s crushing 8-0 victory over the Lightning Chaleur last Thursday.
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Photo
Jake MacDonald scored his first career goal in a Blizzard uniform on Friday in Grand Falls. Photo archives Percy Picard
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, communications – Edmundston Blizzard (506) 253-7741