Rocket Lineup

Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Alex Belzile – Jesse Ylonen

Joel Teasdale – Brandon Gignac – Rem Pitlick

Lucas Condotta – Mitchell Stephens – Gabriel Bourque

Pierrick Dube – Peter Abbandonato – John Parker-Jones

Nicolas Beaudin – Corey Schueneman

Mattias Norlinder – Tory Dello

William Trudeau – Olivier Galipeau

Kevin Poulin – Joe Vrbetic

Justin Barron, Otto Leskinen

Gianni Fairbrother (knee), Nate Schnarr (lower-body), Cayden Primeau (upper-body), Madison Bowey (upper-body), Jan Mysak (DTD), Danick Martel (DTD), Justin Barron, Xavier Simoneau (upper-body)

Game Report

Game Report written by Amy Johnson

To wrap up this pre-holiday road trip, the Laval Rocket found themselves in Syracuse, NY for the first time this season. Winning two of their previous three games, the Rocket looked to gain some valuable traction in the standings with another win on Wednesday night in the hopes of getting out of last place in the North Division.

First Period

Playing from behind has been an issue that has plagued the Rocket for a majority of their games this season. Being ready to play from the moment the puck drops is an area that could definitely use some improvement. Syracuse set the tone early on when Gemel Smith lit the lamp less than five minutes into the game. Smith passed the puck cross-ice to Gage Goncalves as he drove the net, and Goncalves managed to get Kevin Poulin out of position. He quickly dished the puck back over to Smith, who was waiting on the doorstep to put it into the empty cage.

About a minute later, the Crunch doubled their score when Lucas Edmonds found the back of the net from almost the same position as Smith did. Poulin tried to make a sprawling attempt to get back across the crease, but couldn’t get to the puck in time. The Rocket found themselves trailing by two goals about six minutes into the game and before they had even put three shots on goal.

Second Period

Because of a shot on goal by Pierrick Dube after the horn had sounded to end the first period, the Rocket began the second period shorthanded as the young forward sat for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Laval killed off that penalty, and were then gifted with an extended five-on-three power play when Syracuse committed back-to-back delay of game infractions. However, the Rocket couldn’t capitalize on the prime opportunity.

The Crunch continued to maintain most of the puck possession for the remainder of the period, and Poulin and Jack LaFontaine, who was playing in his first AHL game this season, both had to make some good saves to keep the frame scoreless.

Third Period

The Rocket really turned up the heat in the third period, despite taking two penalties in the frame. The peppered LaFontaine with 14 shots, more than they had any other period, but both goaltenders continued to make solid saves.

No good fortune could be found on the power play in this period for Laval, either, and they went 0-for-3 on the man advantage in this game.

With Poulin pulled for the extra attacker, and just 43 seconds left on the clock, Rafael Harvey-Pinard spoiled LaFontaine’s shutout bid when he cleaned up a rebound from the slot to pull the Rocket within one. 

It was too little too late, however, and the Crunch came out on top at the final horn.

What’s Next?

Plus / Minus

▲ Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Jesse Ylonen, Lucas Condotta

▼ Pierrick Dube, Mitchell Stephens, Brandon Gignac