ESPANOLA, Ont. – The French River Rapids picked up a goal in each period as they went on to defeat the Espanola Express 3-1 Friday in a Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League match-up at the Regional Recreation Complex.
French River were the first to score on this night as Ryan Smith picked up his eighth of the campaign for the Rapids at 19:01 of the opening period.
Moving on to the middle frame, each team would tally once beginning with a Philippe Daoust shorthanded effort for the Rapids at 16:23 only to see Matais Salem answer back for Espanola on the same man advantage opportunity.
The score stayed that way deep into the end of regulation when the Express pulled goaltender Joel Rainville to try and tie it and force overtime, but it was the visitors that sealed the victory with 17 seconds left as Hunter Brazier scored into an empty net to secure the triumph.
Shots on goal on the night saw the Express hold the edge by a 38-30 margin with Marshall Frappier picking up the win and Rainville suffering the setback.
