FRENCH RIVER – The French River Rapids scored once in each period and had a combined 28 saves from netminders Chase Johnson and Sebastien Woods to help them blank the Elliot Lake Wildcats 3-0 in Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League action Friday evening at Noelville Arena.
Ryan Smith got the Rapids going six and a half minutes into the contest as he collected his seventh goal of the season to help send the home side on their way.
Johnson manned the nets for the home side in the first period stopping all nine shots he faced, but gave way to Woods to commence the middle session.
French River then extended their cushion early in the second stanza when Cooper Bowman buried one while his club was shorthanded as he provided a man-down effort at 2:08.
In the third, French River got some insurance late with Ty Chambers connecting on the power play with just over two minutes remaining to help secure the victory.
Woods handled all 19 attempts he saw in relief to help produce French River’s initial shutout of the season, which was also their first since November 30 of 2018 when Marshall Frappier made 33 stops in blanking Powassan.
Elliot Lake starter Jonathan Lemaire was busy facing 60 shots in defeat.
Game Photos courtesy of Dal Photography
