Red Wings win at home against French River Rapids

French River Rapids came to Elliot Lake for the teams' second season meeting Friday night and ended up on the losing end of a high scoring NOJHL match-up.

The Red Wings put together a close 5-4 home ice victory.

It took Elliot Lake forward Matthew Shulist just over a minute to get the Wings onto the scoreboard. 

He made it 1-0 Elliot Lake at 1:03, scoring on French River goalie Cole Sheffield, assisted by Ethan Mercer and Brodie Kearns, on the power play.

French River answered back at 6:31 of the first period when forward Griffin Simpson got past Cameron Smith in the Red Wings goal crease with another power play marker.

Alexander Dubuc put another goal on the scoreboard for the Rapids, this time unassisted, at 9:07.

Alex Antoine evened it up for the Red Wings, scoring at 10:15 of the first, with another assist from Kearns and a helper from Brock McNaughton.

Minutes later Elliot Lake came through with two more first period goals. 

The first came on the power play at 15:14 via Kaden Leverdiere, assisted by McNaughton and Josh Tomasi.

Then Antoine put in his second goal of the night, at 16:27. He got help again from Kearns and Mercer.

At the end of the first the score was Red Wings 4, Rapids 2.

In the second period, French River's Adam Boucher scored his team's third goal at 4:30.

Antoine was back for a hat trick just before the second period buzzer sounded, with an unassisted goal at 19:43.

The score was Red Wings 5-3 heading into the third period.

The final game goal came at 19:30 from Rapids forward Dominick Godin.

His effort was too little, too late with just 30 seconds left on the clock.

The Red Wings were the victors, 5-4.

Elliot Lake netminder Cameron Smith claimed the victory after stopping 36 of the 40 shots that came at him.

French River goalie Cole Sheffield stopped 39 shots.

The Red Wings advanced to a season record of 11-26-1-0 as Rapids left town at 19-20-1-0.

Red Wings have 23 points and remain in the hunt for a playoff spot in the west division.

Also Friday night, the Soo Thunderbirds dropped the Kirkland Lake Gold Miners 3-1.

The Blind River Beavers edged the Powassan Voodoos 4-3.

The Soo (Mich) Eagles stopped the Timmins Rock 3-2.

The Greater Sudbury Cubs thumped the Espanola Express 7-1.

Next up, the Red Wings have another home game against Powassan Voodoos Sunday afternoon at 2:30, in Centennial Arena.