Rocket Lineup

Charles Hudon – Jake Evans – Joe Cox

Yannick Veilleux – Michael McCarron – Dale Weise

Alexandre Alain – Kevin Lynch – Ralph Cuddemi

Michael Pezzetta – Nikita Jevpalovs – William Pelletier

Gustav Olofsson – Xavier Ouellet

Otto Leskinen – Evan McEneny

Karl Alzner – Josh Brook

Cayden Primeau – Keith Kinkaid

James Phelan, Hayden Verbeek, Maxim Lamarche, Antoine Waked

Phil Varone (wrist), Noah Juulsen (upper body), Alex Belzile (pectoral surgery)

Game Report

Game Report written by Chris G

The Rocket were hosting the Marlies on Saturday in the second game of the weekend series at Place Bell. Toronto only needed 59 seconds during the second period of Friday’s game to score three goals and go on to record the 3-2 win. 

Joel Bouchard’s team was looking to take advantage of the opponents playing their third game in 48 hours in order to snap their five-game losing streak. 

Cayden Primeau got the start in goal after coming into relieve Keith Kinkaid on Friday. In his last start, Primeau allowed five goals on 19 shots in a loss against Utica. The only other lineup change was Michael Pezzetta returning to action, while Hayden Verbeek was a healthy scratch. 

Yannick Veilleux opened the scoring 10:08 into the first period, redirecting Karl Alzner’s shot from the point. Veilleux has scored in all three games since joining the team on a professional tryout contract. 

At the 13:57 mark, Gustav Olofsson’s shot from the point deflected off Charles Hudon, and then on defender Teemu Kivihalme before getting behind Joseph Woll. It was Hudon’s eighth goal in the same amount of games. 

The Marlies got on the board while Kevin Lynch was in the penalty box for cross-checking. Kivihalme’s shot from the point went in the net while Mason Marchment acted as a screen. 

Xavier Ouellet scored his fifth goal of the season 40 seconds into the second with a point shot that went through Woll. Then 37 seconds later, Jake Evans set up Hudon in the slot and he buried it top corner glove side. It was Evans’ second assist of the game and his fourth in the last four games. 

The Marlies had a two-man advantage for 58 seconds while Evan McEneny and Otto Lsekinen were in the penalty box, however didn’t even manage to take a shot during that sequence.    

Ralph Cuddemi scored his first career AHL goal with 10:45 remaining in the second period. Cuddemi picked up a rebound from Alzner’s point shot. That goal chased Woll from goal. Laval completely dominated the second period, outshooting their opponents 18-1. 

Cuddemi got his second point of the game during a two-on-one when he set up Evans at 5:48 of the third period. The Marlies weren’t able to score on any of their 16 shots in the final frame. 

The Rocket will head to Belleville to visit the Senators on New Year’s Eve at 3:00 pm eastern time. Listen to full audio of player and coach post-game interviews in the player below.

Plus / Minus

▲  Charles Hudon, Yannick Veilleux, Jake Evans, Ralph Cuddemi

▼  Josh Brook, Michael Pezzetta