Rocket Lineup

Danick Martel – Jean-Sebastien Dea – Jesse Ylonen

Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Peter Abbandonato – Kevin Roy

Joel Teasdale – Gabriel Bourque – Alexandre Fortin

Justin Ducharme – Cam Hillis

Xavier Ouellet – Louie Belpedio

Sami Niku – Tobie Paquette-Bisson

Corey Schueneman – Tory Dello

Josh Brook

Kevin Poulin – Louis-Philip Guindon

Terrance Amorosa, Devante Smith-Pelly

Josh Brook (surgery), Brandon Gignac (upper-body injury), Lukas Vejdemo (DTD), Alex Belzile (DTD), Gianni Fairbrother (DTD)

Game Report

Game Report written by Chris G

The Rocket and Crunch completed the three-game series at Place Bell on Saturday. On Friday, Jean-Sebastien Dea scored the winning goal in Laval’s 2-1 victory.  Syracuse was looking to leave Laval with at least one victory this week. 

Alexander Fortin entered the lineup, replacing Brandon Baddock. Earlier in the day, Baddock was traded to the Minnesota Wild organization in return for goaltender Andrew Hammond. 

Josh Brook made his season debut entering the lineup as the seventh defenceman. Brook was sidelined with a knee injury that occurred in May.  

Kevin Poulin got the start in goal for the third consecutive game. On Friday, Poulin made 19 saves in Laval’s win.

First Period

Justin Ducharme opened the scoring at the 6:14 mark after picking up Joel Teasdale’s rebound. On the play, Peter Abbandonato collected his fourth point this week against his former team. 

Dea increased Laval’s lead 8:12 later after picking up a rebound for the goal. The sequence began when Sami Niku went around the Crunch defencemen before shooting. Niku’s assist was his first point with the Rocket. 

Syracuse outplayed Laval in the first period, outshooting them 16-6. Poulin made several key saves in the first 20 minutes. 

Second Period

Laval increased the lead to three goals 1:34 into the second period when Gabriel Bourque found Teasdale open in the slot for the goal. It was the forward’s second goal this week against the Crunch. 

At the 10:43 mark, Bourque scored on a shorthanded breakaway while Niku was serving a penalty to make it 4-0. Bourque has collected three points versus Syracuse this week. 

The Crunch players’ frustration level increased as the game progressed. 

Third Period

Former Canadiens prospect Charles Hudon put Syracuse on the board at 8:21, when he capitalized on Poulin being out of position.  

The Crunch pressed hard to get back into the game. After Laval killed off Dea’s penalty, Syracuse coach Benoit Groulx pulled his goalie for the extra attacker with 8:42 remaining in regulation. 

The Crunch took seven shots on goal in the next 7:06 of action, before Dea scored into an empty net to seal the match. The empty net goal was his third goal in two games.

What’s Next?

Poulin was spectacular once again, making 38 saves in Laval’s 5-1 win. The Rocket swept the three-game series versus their division rivals. 

Cayden Primeau was assigned to the Rocket after Saturday’s Canadiens game. He will join the team for Monday’s practice. 

The Rocket head on a five-game road trip beginning on Wednesday in Belleville at 7:00pm eastern. 

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

Plus / Minus

▲ Kevin Poulin, Gabriel Bourque, Joel Teasdale, Sami Niku

▼ Rafael Harvey-Pinard