Rocket Lineup

Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Alex Belzile – Jesse Ylonen

Anthony Richard – Mitchell Stephens – Gabriel Bourque

Lucas Condotta – Jan Mysak – Danick Martel

Joel Teasdale – Peter Abbandonato – Pierrick Dube

Otto Leskinen – Justin Barron

Mattias Norlinder – Tory Dello

William Trudeau – Madison Bowey

Kevin Poulin – Cayden Primeau

Brennan Saulnier, Alex Green, Brandon Gignac, Nate Schnarr, Xavier Simoneau

Gianni Fairbrother (knee)

Game Report

Game Report written by Amy Johnson

Friday night’s road game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins was one to forget for the Laval Rocket. The team struggled from the outset of the game, and dug themselves into a hole early with three first-period penalties and two goals against. On top of that, it was difficult for them to generate shots on goal for the better part of the game.

For Saturday night’s meeting with the Bridgeport Islanders, Jean-Francois Houle decided to shake up his lineup a bit and bring in some guys who have been watching from the press box. Nate Schnarr, Brandon Gignac, and Xavier Simoneau were all healthy scratches on this night, allowing space for Joel Teasdale and Peter Abbandonato to make their season debuts, and for Pierrick Dube to draw back in as well.

First Period

The Rocket opened tonight’s game with a bit more pep in their skates and had a good scoring chance in the first few minutes. Islanders netminder Jakub Skarek, however, kept the puck out of the net.

Laval found themselves once again taking the first penalty of the game, when Mattias Norlinder was whistled for holding. Bridgeport was unsuccessful on the ensuing power play, however former Rocket forward Chris Terry got the primary assist on the first goal of the night when he fed Simon Holmstrom with a cross-ice pass. Holmstrom made no mistake putting the puck past Kevin Poulin.

With just over five minutes left in the opening period, Laval forced a Bridgeport turnover in the Islanders’ zone, and Anthony Richard pounced on the loose puck to easily shoot it past Skarek.

Less than two minutes before intermission, the Islanders regained their lead when Hunter Fasching ripped the puck short side into the Laval net.

Second Period

Momentum shifted a bit in the second period when it was the Islanders taking trip after trip to the penalty box, but Laval still couldn’t find a way to light the lamp on their multiple man-advantage opportunities. Jesse Ylonen came very close, with his signature high-speed shot from the circle, but Skarek was up to the task.

As has been the case too many times in this short start to the season, penalties were the not-so-good story of the night for Laval once again. With Danick Martel in the box for tripping, Chris Terry earned his second point of the night when he ripped a shot top shelf short-side from the right circle to extend Bridgeport’s lead.

Third Period

A carryover goal from the end of the second period meant that the Rocket started the third on a power play. Rafael Harvey-Pinard pulled his team within a goal of their opponent when he buried a power play goal early.

Five minutes later, the Islanders had restored their two-goal advantage when Ruslan Iskhahov quickly put a rebound past Poulin.

The Rocket continued to try to generate some net-front presence and penetrate the Bridgeport zone, but to no avail. Holmstrom finished the game with his second goal of the night, an empty-netter.

What’s Next?

Plus / Minus

▲ Jesse Ylonen, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Mitchell Stephens

▼ Danick Martel, Joel Teasdale, William Trudeau