SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — A three-goal second period sparked the Grand Falls Rapids to a 5-1 victory over the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals on Friday night.
The Rapids led the Maritime Junior Hockey League game 1-0 after the opening period, but outscored the Caps 3-1 in the middle frame to take a 4-1 lead into the final 20 minutes.
The Rapids improved to 2-3-1 (won-lost-overtime losses) under the direction of head coach Brad MacKenzie of Charlottetown and assistants Morgan MacDonald of Little Pond and Borden-Carleton native Nich Tremere. The Caps, who were playing their sixth of seven games on the road, fell to 5-2-0.
The Caps are back at Eastlink Arena on Saturday hosting the Pictou County Crushers (3-2-0) in a 7 p.m. start. This game will open a stretch of three straight and nine of 12 games on home ice for the Caps.
Before 958 fans at the E&P Sénéchal Centre, Nash Smith (2), Lucas Joly (1-1) and Adrian Ward accounted for the Rapids’ scoring. Matthew MacKay (2), Zac Arsenault of Montague, Matthew MacNeill, Miguel Pare, Shon Olivier Roy and Isaac Dixon contributed assists.
Isaac Wilson, who was set up by Zach Biggar, netted his first regular-season goal as a Western Capital.
Overall, Grand Falls held a 41-38 shots-on-goal advantage. Tyriq Outen earned the goaltending win with a 37-save effort while Alex MacVicar made 36 stops for the Caps.
The Rapids were 1-for-5 on the power play and the Caps went 0-for-4.
The game’s three stars were:
1. Tyriq Outen (Rapids), 2. Matthew MacKay (Rapids), 3. Nash Smith (Rapids).
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