Rocket Lineup

Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Brandon Gignac – Jesse Ylonen

Anthony Richard – Xavier Simoneau – Danick Martel

Lucas Condotta – Mitchell Stephens – Gabriel Bourque

Peter Abbandonato – Jan Mysak – Joel Teasdale

Corey Schueneman – Justin Barron

Mattias Norlinder – Madison Bowey

Otto Leskinen – Alex Green

Cayden Primeau – Kevin Poulin

Tory Dello, Nicolas Beaudin, Nate Schnarr

Gianni Fairbrother (knee), Alex Belzile (day-to-day), William Trudeau (day-to-day)

Game Report

Game Report written by Chris G

The Laval Rocket continued their six-game homestand on Wednesday by hosting the Toronto Marlies. Laval won one of the three games during this sequence. On Saturday, the Rocket lost 5-1 to the Rochester Americans. Toronto came into Place Bell with a three-game winning streak.

Coach Jean-Francois Houle was forced to make changes to the lineups due to injury. Captain Alex Belzile was sidelined with a lower body injury, and was replaced by Joel Teasdale. Belzile is questionable to be ready for this weekend.

On defence, Alex Green slotted back to the lineup after being scratched the last seven matches. William Trudeau did not finish Saturday’s game with an injury, was not dressed versus Toronto.

Cayden Primeau got the start in goal. In his last start, Primeau made 31 saves in a win against Rochester.

First Period

Toronto opened the scoring in the fifth minute of play when defenceman Matteo Pietroniro beat Primeau from the point with a shot that went right through the goalie.

Laval’s first quality scoring chance came seconds after the conclusion of their first power play when Mitchell Stephens had goalie Keith Petruzzelli in a vulnerable position, but the forward fanned on his shot.

The Rocket capitalized on their second man advantage in the final minute of the frame, when Corey Schueneman set up Anthony Richard for a one-timer goal. The goal extended Richard’s goal streak to five games.

Second Period

The red lamps behind the net were busy in the second period. Laval was shorthanded when Nick Abruzzese redirected former Hab Logan Shaw’s shot for a goal.

At 4:13, Stephens set up Gabriel Bourque for a breakaway, and the veteran got it past the goalie to tie the score 2-2.

The division rivals exchanged power play goals in a span of 2:06. First, Justin Barron set up Jesse Ylonen for a one-timer blast. The goal snapped the forward’s seven-game scoreless drought.

Second, Shaw scored with a one-timer of his own that beat Primeau top corner glove side.

Adam Gaudette gave the visitors the lead by picking up his own rebound for the goal.

Shaw continued to haunt his former organization with 7:55 remaining when he found himself behind Mattias Norlinder and Madison Bowey for a breakaway goal to increase the lead to 5-3 through 40 minutes.

Third Period

Laval had an early power play opportunity in the third period to try to reduce the gap. The Rocket did not convert on any of the three shots on goal during the minor penalty.

Houle’s squad continued firing pucks on Petruzezelli, but the Marlies’ goalie stood strong in front of his goal.

With Primeau on the bench for a sixth skater, Brandon Gignac was hacking in the crease before a quick whistle blown by the official prevented a goal to count.

Rafael Harvey-Pinard got the fans at Place Bell roaring as he picked up a rebound and cut Toronto’s lead to one goal.

The Marlies ended all hopes by adding two empty net goals and walking out with two points in the standings.

What’s Next?

This is not the start of the season that Laval wanted. The Rocket have one win in their last six games.

Laval will try to bounce back on Friday when they host Toronto again at 7:00pm Eastern.

Plus / Minus

▲ Corey Schueneman, Mitchell Stephens, Justin Barron

▼ Cayden Primeau, Joel Teasdale, Mattias Norlinder, Brandon Gignac