Lightning double up Rapids 6-3 for a 2-0 series lead
The Chaleur Lightning played their first playoff game in Bathurst on Sunday, winning 6-3 to take a 2-0 series lead over the Grand Falls Rapids in their Eastlink North Division Semi-Final.
Jonah Leard opened the scoring for Grand Falls at 2:52 of the 1st period, but a goal from Owen Arnold tied the game 1-1 at 9:21. The Rapids grabbed the lead back at 2:19 of the 2nd period. The Lightning took their first lead of the game with two goals in 1:24 as Carter Bromley scored at 7:14 and Zachary Rushton found the back of the net on the powerplay at 8:38.
The Rapids’ Loïc Francoeur tied the game at 3 at 10:00 of the 2nd period, on the powerplay, but Jack Hayne scored his 3rd and 4th goals of the series, one on the powerplay, to stake Chaleur to a 5-3 lead. Ben Cross rounded out the scoring on the powerplay at 13:07 of the 3rd period to give the Lightning a 6-3 win and a 2-0 lead in their Metalfab MHL Cup Playoff series. Game 3 is back in Grand Falls on Wednesday.
Chaleur’s Jack Flanagan made 25 saves for the win, while Adam Lecours had 23 saves in the loss.
Bearcats take 2-0 series lead with 5-1 win over Pictou County
The Truro Bearcats, fresh off a 6-0 win in Game 1, used a four-goal 2nd period to defeat the Weeks Crushers 5-1 on Sunday at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.
Kaden Smith got the home side on the board at 3:28 of the 1st period, but Samuel Vachon scored on the powerplay at 7:24 for Truro to send the teams to their dressing rooms tied at 1 after the opening period.
In the 2nd period, defenseman Jayden Connors put Truro up 2-1 at 3:40, and Vachon doubled the lead at 11:59 with his second goal of the night. Callum Aucoin notched his fourth goal of the series at 15:21, and Antoine Fontaine picked up his third goal of the series at 19:33 of the 2nd period to make it a 5-1 final.
Sam Berthiaume made 27 saves for the win. Yianni Karkoulas allowed five goals on eleven shots and was replaced by George Gallant in the 3rd period, who stopped all fourteen shots he faced. Game 3 is back in Truro on Tuesday.