Rocket Lineup

Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Alex Belzile – Rem Pitlick

Lucas Condotta – Mitchell Stephens – Jesse Ylonen

Joel Teasdale – Peter Abbandonato – Gabriel Bourque

Xavier Simoneau – Nate Schnarr – John Parker-Jones

William Trudeau – Corey Schueneman

Mattias Norlinder – Nicolas Beaudin

Olivier Galipeau – Santino Centorame

Kevin Poulin – Cayden Primeau

Pierrick Dube, Anthony Beauregard, Eric Williams

Gianni Fairbrother (knee), Madison Bowey (upper-body), Jan Mysak (DTD), Danick Martel (DTD), Otto Leskinen, Brandon Gignac, Tory Dello

Game Report

Game Report written by Amy Johnson

After seeing there three-game winning streak come to end on Friday night when the Manitoba Moose kept the Rocket from making a complete comeback in a 5-4 overtime win, Laval hit the road for their first trip of 2023.

Toronto was the initial stop on the itinerary, and for the Sunday afternoon matinee game it Kevin Poulin who was given the start in net. The only other roster change made by Jean-Francois Houle was swapping in John Parker-Jones for Pierrick Dube as the fourth line right winger.

First Period

The home team opened the scoring when Adam Gaudette managed to get in all alone on Poulin, and deftly finished off a quick forehand-backhand move to put the Marlies up 1-0.

Laval, however, got the first power play of the game, and with just about three seconds left on the man-advantage, Joel Teasdale got a shot off that went bar down and in behind Joseph Woll.

Oddly enough, for a good portion of the opening frame, the fire alarm in Coca-Cola Coliseum was loudly ringing. Play continued, but the sound was certainly distracting.

Second Period

The Rocket managed to stay out of the penalty box in the first period, unlike the Marlies, whose third infraction of the day carried over to the start of the second period.

It took almost the entire period for another goal lamp to light up, and it was unfortunately behind Poulin’s net. Laval was shorthanded and the Marlies capitalized when Bobby McMann ripped a shot from the point that found its way to the back of the net through traffic.

Some physicality started to heat up later in the period when Lucas Condotta and Marshall Rifai dropped the gloves for a rousing tilt. Toronto seemed to use their physical play as a tool against the Rocket much more in this middle frame.

Third Period

Two goals came within relatively quick succession in the third period, with Toronto first extending their lead to 3-1 off of a goal by Alex Steeves.

Then Gabriel Bourque came up clutch after a rebound and scramble in front of the crease left a loose puck open for the taking. Bourque was the player able to corral it and get it past Joseph Woll.

Tensions continued to flare in this period, and Rafael Harvey-Pinard got into a serious tussle with McMann after a whistle. They both sat for roughing for two minutes. Not long after they were sprung from the penalty box, McMann potted his second goal of the night. This time, Nick Abruzzese fed him a crisp pass across the slot and McMann picked his corner to find the back of the net again.

Houle attempted to recreate the comeback magic from Friday night and pulled his goaltender early, but even the puck that trickled into the Toronto net just after the final buzzer wouldn’t have been enough to give Laval a chance at victory.

What’s Next?

Defenseman Nicolas Beaudin was injured during this game and did not return in the third period. No update has yet been given on his status for upcoming games.

The Rocket now continue their road trip by heading to the States for a Wednesday night meeting in Rochester against the Americans.

Plus / Minus

▲ Joel Teasdale, Nate Schnarr, Corey Schueneman

▼ Kevin Poulin, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, John Parker-Jones