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The Rapids team that beat Hermantown played the first period. Shepherd made three fantastic saves when FL was on the power play. Great first period. Saves are 10 for FL 8 for Rapids.

FL 1, Rapids 0. SH goal. Rapids defenseman coughed up the puck which resulted a lone break goal.

FL 1
GR 0
After 2nd

1-1, Peterson on a great shot.

1-1 OT.

Going to OT two

GR 2-1 over FL in 2 OTs.

What a great game. Rapids played their best game of the year. Out of all the good things they did, I was struck by how well their 3rd line forechecked and seemed to control the offensive zone. Picture-perfect 2 on 1 to end the game. Shepherd and Peterson provided the leadership but the as they say it was a total team effort.

greenway1969 wrote:What a great game. Rapids played their best game of the year. Out of all the good things they did, I was struck by how well their 3rd line forechecked and seemed to control the offensive zone. Picture-perfect 2 on 1 to end the game. Shepherd and Peterson provided the leadership but the as they say it was a total team effort.

For once I agree with you, good account of the game!

Shepard stood absolutely on his head more than once, Garcia made several big saves as well. Great game for hockey lovers. For me being a GR faithful it was wreaking a little too much havoc on my nerves to enjoy, but I did, especially at the end.

Both teams were definitely becoming more gassed as the periods wore on but the play was pretty solid. GR would control the puck for awhile but Flake would get better scoring chances at times, Rapids' young D held tough for the most part.

Glad to see the boys celebrate in front of a huge home crowd in a thriller of a game. Hats off to Flake for playing a very good, solid game. Rest up GR boys, revenge game #2 on Sat!!

greenway1969 wrote:What a great game. Rapids played their best game of the year. Out of all the good things they did, I was struck by how well their 3rd line forechecked and seemed to control the offensive zone. Picture-perfect 2 on 1 to end the game. Shepherd and Peterson provided the leadership but the as they say it was a total team effort.

Rapids played their best game of the year? If that is the case, it doesn't bode well for them against DE. Beating Flake 2-1 is a decent win, but for best game of the year, that means they had a so-so year.

They did have a so-so year. The way Shepherd played I'd be surprised if East beats Rapids 5-0 again. He made some saves that I still can't believe.

greenway1969 wrote:What a great game. Rapids played their best game of the year. Out of all the good things they did, I was struck by how well their 3rd line forechecked and seemed to control the offensive zone. Picture-perfect 2 on 1 to end the game. Shepherd and Peterson provided the leadership but the as they say it was a total team effort.

That was not GR's best game of the year. It was one of the best game of the year for Hunter Shepard (Edina 60 save performance/ER win). It was the best I've seen the 3rd line play, but they have been playing well for some time. The top two lines and the defense were sloppy for a good amount of the game and it was by far the best they have played. If the the top two lines play with the same intensity and grit the 3rd line played with, the defense plays steady and Hunter plays like he did last night, they will prevail on Saturday. That's a lot of if's, but when they put it together, Rapids can be great and can win the section.

Had to chuckle when I saw "best game of the year". If your best game is having to go to 2OT with the 22nd ranked team in AA, and having Shepard have to stand on his head to win, you are screwed Saturday.

I don't know what game Rapids played better. Possibly the Hermantown game, but that would be the only one. Their defense really cut down on the mistakes in their own zone, Rapids is not a great team, but a dangerous one, East fans should not get too overconfident about the rematch. I still see East winning but they better not play like they did against Lakeville South, Apple Valley or Cloquet or they'll be watching Rapids in the championship game. They have managed to beat Elk River, something East did not accomplish this year (yet).

Slammer wrote:Had to chuckle when I saw "best game of the year". If your best game is having to go to 2OT with the 22nd ranked team in AA, and having Shepard have to stand on his head to win, you are screwed Saturday.

This is great...move this to the DE/GR thread!

greenway1969 wrote:I don't know what game Rapids played better. Possibly the Hermantown game, but that would be the only one. Their defense really cut down on the mistakes in their own zone, Rapids is not a great team, but a dangerous one, East fans should not get too overconfident about the rematch. I still see East winning but they better not play like they did against Lakeville South, Apple Valley or Cloquet or they'll be watching Rapids in the championship game. They have managed to beat Elk River, something East did not accomplish this year (yet).

I don't think East fans are getting too overconfident. In fact, I don't think many wanted to see GR win last night (though they may say they did in order to watch a "good hockey game" Saturday). It's just pointing out that like Slammer said, if that is their best game (against #22 in the state), they will need to play their best game again on Saturday. Each side can say if my team plays this way or if my team does this they will be ok. Fact of the matter is, both teams have the chance to play their best game on Saturday, but only one will win. I can't wait for it, and hope East plays against Rapids like they did in January!

It wasn't Rapids' best game, that was the Hermantown game. After Htown went up 2-0 it was all Rapids. The Flake game they brought good intensity but that would dwindle as the period wore on. They played a good, solid game. Definitely room for improvement; better passes, less no look passing, reduce mental errors and turnovers in own end, more intensity from the top 2 lines and more physicality from the lower lines. Rapids was very disciplined in the Forest Lake game but the refs were very good at putting their whistles away; should have been more penalties on both squads. We'll see if Rapids can remain composed with the "East Refs".

north_bear wrote:It wasn't Rapids' best game, that was the Hermantown game. After Htown went up 2-0 it was all Rapids. The Flake game they brought good intensity but that would dwindle as the period wore on. They played a good, solid game. Definitely room for improvement; better passes, less no look passing, reduce mental errors and turnovers in own end, more intensity from the top 2 lines and more physicality from the lower lines. Rapids was very disciplined in the Forest Lake game but the refs were very good at putting their whistles away; should have been more penalties on both squads. We'll see if Rapids can remain composed with the "East Refs".

Rapids just needs to sneak into the ref's locker room before the game and trade out the gift baskets left there that are filled with Hound Hockey stuff and replace them with baskets full of Thunderhawk stuff. Maybe instead of having Hound Hockey t-shirts on under their stripes they will have on T-Hawk t-shirts.

It appears some have difficulty with the difference between a Grand Rapids/Forest Lake thread and a Grand Rapids/Duluth East thread.

Lee