Rocket Lineup

Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Jordan Weal – Jesse Ylonen

Jake Lucchini – Ryan Poehling – Kevin Lynch

Laurent Dauphin – Lukas Vejdemo – Arsen Khisamutdinov

Joel Teasdale – Joseph Blandisi – Brandon Baddock

Gustav Olofsson – Corey Schueneman

Kaiden Guhle – Otto Leskinen

Xavier Ouellet – Josh Brook

Cayden Primeau – Charlie Lindgren

Tobie Paquette-Bisson, Nathanael Halbert, Liam Hawel, Hayden Verbeek, Jacob Leguerrier, Jan Mysak, Cameron Hillis, Vasily Demchenko, Michael Pezzetta, Yannick Veilleux

N/A

Game Report

Game Report written by Chris G

The Rocket and the Moose squared off on Friday night for the third time this week. Laval was looking to snap their two-game losing streak. On Wednesday night, Manitoba beat Laval 4-2 at the Bell Centre. 

Jake Lucchini, Arsen Khisamutdinov, and Josh Brook were inserted into the lineup after sitting out the last match. Yannick Veilleux, out with injury, and Michael Pezzetta were out of lineup.  

Cayden Primeau got the start in goal. In his last start, he made 24 saves to help Laval beat Belleville on Sunday. 

Earlier in the day, the Canadiens announced that Kaiden Guhle, and Gianni Fairbrother will return to their respective Western Hockey League teams. Guhle had the chance to play on Friday night before joining Prince Albert.

First Period

The Moose took a lead on their second shot of the game courtesy of Declan Chisholm. Chisholm’s point shot went through traffic to beat Primeau glove side. It was the second time this season that Laval has allowed the first goal of the contest. 

The Rocket obtained their first dangerous scoring chance during a power play, when Otto Leskinen set up Lucchini for a shot from the slot that was stopped by Mikhail Berdin. 

Primeau was tested at the end of that power play when Kristian Reichel came on a breakaway as he exited the penalty box. Primeau stopped the backhander with his right pad. 

Laval tied the score in the final minute while killing a penalty against Corey Schueneman. The sequence started when Joseph Blandisi drew four Moose players behind the goal line, and managed to find Gustav Olofsson alone in the slot for the goal.

Second Period

Joel Bouchard changed up his forward lines to start the period, and it led to offensive opportunities. Ryan Poehling drew a hooking penalty against Manitoba, and Laval took four shots during the sequence, including several scoring chances. 

Jesse Ylonen increased Laval’s lead after picking up the rebound in the slot from Brook’s point shot. Ylonen scored with a hard wrister that beat Berdin up high for his fifth point in last four games. 

Lukas Vejdemo was in the penalty box when the Moose tied the score. Cole Maier beat Primeau with a soft shot from on top of the face-off circle that hit the goalie’s blocker before going in. It was a goal that Primeau would have liked to have back.

Third Period

During the fifth minute of the frame, Olofsson’s shot from the point was redirected into the net by Kevin Lynch. It was Lynch’s first goal of the year and Olofsson’s third point in last four games. 

The Rocket had several unsuccessful scoring chances before the Moose tied the game. Olofsson had the puck behind his own goal line when his pass to Vejdemo was intercepted by Cole Perfetti. 

Laval bounced back 38 seconds later when Rafael Harvey-Pinard set up Brook for a one-timer goal from the slot. 

The Moose pulled Berdin for the extra attacker with over two minutes remaining, but the Rocket’s defence played well in front of Primeau to prevent a tying goal.

What’s Next?

Bouchard trusted Guhle on the ice in the final moments of the game. The coach stated that he is happy with the prospect’s time with Laval. Guhle said he appreciated getting his first taste of professional hockey. 

The two teams will face each other once again on Saturday at 4:00pm ET.

Be sure to scroll down for full audio from our AHL Report team and other members of the media in post-game interviews with Brook, Guhle, Lynch, and Bouchard.

Plus / Minus

▲  Jesse Ylonen, Joseph Blandisi, Kaiden Guhle

▼  Joel Teasdale