EDMUNDSTON, N.B. – A single late shot in overtime was all it took for the Edmundston Blizzard to secure a 4-3 victory over their Northwest rivals, the Grand Falls Rapids, on Saturday, December 13.
During a turnover in the Rapids zone at 4:11, defenseman Zachary Robichaud made a sharp pass to Darien Thomson, who beat goalie Jérémy Thibodeau-Soucy on a one-timer, sending the 2,247 spectators at the Jean-Daigle Centre into a frenzy.
Michael Derbidge (1st, 1a, 2nd star), Darien Thomson (18th and 19th, 1st star), and Éliott Guenette (8th) scored the goals for the Blizzard. The response came from Patrick Baxter (8th and 9th, 3rd star) and Nathan Plamondon-Michaud (16th).
Cédric Massé earned his 13th win in front of the Blizzard net. He faced 32 shots compared to 29 for Thibodeau-Soucy.
This victory for the Blue and White is very significant because it further tightens the race for the top spot in the Eastlink North division of the MHL. Only five points separate first place from fifth place. Chaleur sits atop the standings with a 17-10-1-1 record for 36 points, followed by Grand Falls (15-12-4-0 = 34 points), West Kent (14-10-3-2 = 33 points), Campbellton (14-11-2-1 = 31 points), and Edmundston (14-12-1-1 = 31 points).
After four games between them, Grand Falls and Edmundston are tied with two wins each. There are still four games left between the two rivals before the end of the regular season.
The Blizzard will have a busy schedule next weekend before the holiday break with three consecutive games on Friday, December 19 (at home against Miramichi), Saturday, December 20 (in Miramichi), and Sunday, December 21 (in West Kent).
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Photo
Darien Thomson screams after scoring the winning goal in overtime on Saturday night at the Jean-Daigle Centre. Photo by Percy Picard
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Source: Hugues Chiasson, communications – Edmundston Blizzard (506) 253-7741