Rocket Lineup

Kevin Roy – Laurent Dauphin – Alex Belzile

Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Jean-Sebastien Dea – Jesse Ylonen

Gabriel Bourque – Lukas Vejdemo – Danick Martel

Brandon Baddock – Brendan Gignac – Cam Hillis

Xavier Ouellet – Louie Belpedio

Corey Schueneman – Tory Dello

Tobie Paquette-Bisson – Carl Neill

Cayden Primeau – Michael McNiven

Alexandre Fortin

Joel Teasdale (surgery), Josh Brook (surgery), Jean-Christophe Beaudin (DTD), Gianni Fairbrother (DTD)

Game Report

Game Report written by Chris G

Laval and Belleville squared off on Friday night at Place Bell in the first match of the home-and-home series this weekend. The Rocket lost to the Senators 5-2 when these two teams met last Saturday. While Jean-Francois Houle spent the week running several practices, Belleville defeated Syracuse 3-2 on Wednesday. 

Danick Martel returned to the lineup after missing one game with an injury. Jesse Ylonen was unavailable because of a non-COVID related illness.  

Cayden Primeau got the start in goal for Laval for the first time since November 13th. Primeau spent one week with the Canadiens, where he recorded a 4.82 goals against average, and .877 save percentage in two starts.

First Period

The Rocket had the first opportunity to get on the board with a power play 5:30 into the game. Laval was not able to obtain a shot on goal during the two-minute advantage, but as the penalty expired Danick Martel was alone in the slot and shot the puck right on Mads Sogaard’s pads. 

During the ninth minute of play, Lukas Vejdemo found Tobie Paquette-Bisson with a cross-ice pass, and the defenceman buried his opportunity. Vejdemo’s assist was his fourth point in the last three games, and Carl Neill’s assist was his first point in the AHL. 

Alex Belzile and Rafael Harvey-Pinard took infractions 41 seconds apart to give Belleville a five-on-three. The penalty kill unit blocked several shots and limited the Senators to two shots during the two-man advantage. 

Former Rocket forward Jake Lucchini tied the score 1-1 with 1:25 remaining, when he picked up a rebound in front of Primeau and knocked the puck to the back of the net.

Second Period

The second period began well for the Rocket. Laval spent most of the time in the offensive zone until Neill was called for holding. The infraction turned the period around to the Senators’ favour. Belleville took their first shot on goal 7:38 into the frame during the power play. 

With seven seconds remaining to the man advantage, Xavier Ouellet obtained an extra minor penalty following a scrum after the whistle. The visitors capitalized on the opportunity as Cedric Pare gave his team the lead by scoring on a rebound. 

Egor Sokolov increased the lead 2:33 later, when his point shot changed directions after the puck hit Louie Belpedio before finding itself in the back of the net. 

With 1:10 remaining, Cole Reinhardt skated into Laval’s zone on a breakaway after the puck bounced over Corey Schueneman’s stick to give Belleville 4-1 lead after 40 minutes.

Third Period

Belleville scored a fifth unanswered goal 3:26 into the final period, when Matthew Wedman beat Primeau with a wrist shot. 

Alexandre Fortin found Schueneman 4:12 later in the period at the top of the faceoff circle and the defenceman beat Sogaard with a shot glove side. Schueneman’s goal was his third point in the last three games. 

Chris Wilkie ended Primeau’s night 1:29 later with a top corner blocker side shot. Michael McNiven came into relief and stopped the five shots on goal he faced.

What’s Next?

Indiscipline cost Laval Friday’s match, as they allowed three five-on-three advantages to Belleville. In the last five games, the Rocket have given 22 power plays to opponents.  

The rematch between the two division rivals is on Saturday at 7:00 pm eastern in Belleville.

Be sure to scroll down to hear post-game interviews with Ouellet, Martel, Belpedio and Houle by the AHL Report team and other members of the media.

Plus / Minus

▲ Danick Martel

▼ Corey Schueneman, Carl Neill, Cayden Primeau, Xavier Ouellet