Playoff Series Recap: Rapids Fall to Mariners in First Round

The Paugan Falls Rapids gave it their all in a hard-fought battle against the Manotick Mariners in the first round of the playoffs, but despite strong individual performances and resilient efforts, they were ultimately defeated 3-2 in Game 1 and 5-3 in Game 2, ending their season.

Game 1 Recap: 3-2 Loss in Manotick

The Rapids came into Game 1 facing a fast-starting Mariners team, and they were on their heels early in the game. Manotick wasted no time taking control, scoring the first three goals of the contest. Goals from Stevie Ray Adams, Timothy Cousineau, and Jonathan Desbiens put the Mariners up 3-0 halfway through the game.

Despite being down, the Rapids continued to battle. Cole Peck got the Rapids on the board with a power-play goal at 8:32 in the second period, assisted by Ryan Peck and Etienne Champagne. Early in the third, Carter Peck made it a one-goal game, calmly finishing a 2v1 feed from Raphael Lajeunesse through the Mariners’ netminder’s five-hole. The Rapids continued to press hard for the equalizer but were unable to tie it up, despite pulling their goalie in the final moments of the game.

A big part of the Rapids’ performance came from Aidan Foley, who stood tall in net with a spectacular 54-save performance. He stopped 54 of 57 shots, earning a .947 save percentage on the night, and kept his team in the game through much of the intense offensive pressure from Manotick.

The Rapids penalty kill was a perfect 3/3, and the power play converted on their only opportunity, proving the team’s ability to step up when needed. Despite being severely outshot, the Rapids remained in the game and fought until the final whistle.

Game 2 Recap: 5-3 Loss at Home

In Game 2, the Rapids came out strong in front of their home crowd at the Gatineau Valley Arena, outshooting the Mariners18-14 in the first period. However, Manotick struck first with a penalty shot goal from William Labrosse at 8:05 in the first period. The Mariners quickly extended their lead, adding two power-play goals and another even-strength goal to go up 4-0 by the second intermission.

But the Rapids weren’t ready to roll over. In the third, Alex Lafreniere got the Rapids on the board with a bizarre goal, a dump-in that found its way into the net, cutting the Mariners’ lead to 4-1. However, Jonathan Cyr extended the Mariners’ lead to 5-1 just 20 seconds later, making it a tough task for the Rapids to mount a comeback.

Still, the Rapids refused to give up. Ryan Peck capitalized on a 5v3 power play, beating Cory Garrow with a perfectly placed shot to the top right corner, making it 5-2. With just 1:08 left on the clock and the goalie pulled, Ryan Peck scored again, slipping the puck through a Mariners centerman’s legs and firing a top-corner shot past Garrow to bring the game to 5-3. Unfortunately, the Rapids couldn’t manage to pull off the comeback, and the Mariners held on for the win.

Looking Ahead

While the Rapids’ playoff run has come to an end, there is plenty to look forward to. The team showed incredible heart and resilience throughout the season, especially in this playoff series against a tough Manotick team. The Rapids will now take time to reflect on the season, regroup, and plan for the future.

More information about the end-of-season banquet and next steps will be released in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for updates on the team’s progress, and thank you to everyone who supported us throughout the season.