Grand Falls win 5-4 double overtime thriller to cut Chaleur’s series lead in half
The Grand Falls Rapids bounced back from two straight losses to start their Eastlink North Division Semi-Final to edge Chaleur 5-4 in double overtime at the E. & P. Sénéchal Centre. The Lightning now lead the series 2-1.
The home side got off to a good start with goals from Jonah Leard at 4:18 and Anton Topilnyckyj at 12:26 to take the lead over Chaleur. The Lightning got one back before the end of the 1st period as Ben Cross scored at 16:37. Owen Arnold had the lone goal of the 2nd period, at 6:18 while Chaleur was shorthanded, to tie the game 2-2 heading to the 3rd.
In the 3rd period, the teams traded goals as Leard scored his fifth goal of the series at 7:29 to give the Rapids the lead, but David Lebel tied things up at 10:19. Bailey Shortall restored the Grand Falls lead at 14:42, and Chaleur again had an answer as Carter Bromley tied things 4-4 with a goal at 17:58.
After the first overtime solved nothing, Shortall scored his second goal of the game at 9:17 of the second overtime to send Grand Falls to a 5-4 victory.
Adam Lecours made 28 saves in the win, while Chaleur goaltender made 44 saves in the loss. Game 4 is back in Bathurst on Friday.