Rocket Lineup

Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Alex Belzile – Rem Pitlick

Anthony Richard – Lucas Condotta – Xavier Simoneau

Joel Teasdale – Peter Abbandonato – Gabriel Bourque

Pierrick Dube – Nate Schnarr – Mitchell Stephens

William Trudeau – Corey Schueneman

Mattias Norlinder – Eric Williams

Olivier Galipeau – Santino Centorame

Joe Vrbetic – Kevin Poulin

John Parker-Jones, Anthony Beauregard

Gianni Fairbrother (knee), Madison Bowey (upper-body), Jan Mysak (DTD), Danick Martel (DTD), Otto Leskinen, Brandon Gignac, Tory Dello, Nicolas Beaudin

Game Report

Game Report written by Amy Johnson

The Rocket entered Friday night’s game in Syracuse riding a three-game losing streak that started in a week ago in Laval. Most recently, the Rocket found themselves on the wrong end of the score when they lost to the Rochester Americans on Wednesday night. Could they end the road trip with at least one win, against the Crunch?

Jean-Francois Houle didn’t shuffle his lineup around too much tonight; he swapped Xavier Simoneau and Mitchell Stephens on the second and fourth lines. Houle also replaced John Parker-Jones with Pierrick Dube on the fourth line. In net, Joe Vrbetic got the start, looking to continue his undefeated season in the AHL.

First Period

Just 60 seconds into the game, Rem Pitlick got Laval on the board with a quick snap snot from the slot following a Syracuse turnover.

Almost four minutes later, after coming out of a scramble in the crease unscathed, Vrbetic made an initial stop on a wraparound attempt, but couldn’t smother the rebound and the Crunch’s Cole Koepke scored the tying goal.

When the Rocket were awarded the game’s first power play, they went to work. Pitlick kept the puck in the zone on an attempted Crunch clear, and dished it over to Rafael Harvey-Pinard in the slot. Harvey-Pinard then tossed the puck back to Alex Belzile waiting down low, and the captain quickly pushed the puck across the line from a sharp angle.

The animosity between these two teams quickly became apparent once again, as physicality increased as the period wore on. With about six minutes left in the frame, Dube took a hard hit along the far boards and went down.

Play continued, giving Syracuse numbers as they entered the Laval zone. Shawn Element teed up a point shot which deflected off of Eric Williams and into the Laval net. Dube was then helped off the ice, but would return later in the game.

Twice in the period, the teams played four-on-four hockey with players in the box for roughing, including at the end of the period. However, William Trudeau then took a cross-checking penalty with three seconds left, giving Syracuse a hefty power play to begin the second period.

Second Period

Gabriel Dumont took advantage of that power play opportunity when he parked himself in front of the Laval crease. Dumont was ready for a quick pass by Simon Ryfors, which he deflected past Vrbetic for Syracuse’s first lead of the game.

That lead was extended a few minutes later when Gage Goncalves tipped in a shot by defenseman Philippe Myers. Next it was another goal due to friendly fire thanks to Trevor Carrick’s shot from the perimeter deflecting off of Belzile and into the Laval net.

With the score now 5-2 for Syracuse, Vrbetic’s night was over and Kevin Poulin entered the game in his place.

The scoring settled down after that, but each team’s disdain for the other did not. Penalties continued to pile up for both benches, and once again the period ended with some carryover power play time left to begin the final frame.

Third Period

Things were stable to open the final frame, until Laval got into penalty trouble. Dube was found guilty of high-sticking and was given a double minor for it. The Crunch converted on the power play when Alex Barre-Boulet drove the net on a delayed Laval penalty and shuffled the puck up and over Poulin.

As Olivier Galipeau joined Dube in the penalty box on a hooking call, the Crunch took advantage of the five-on-three play and Ryfors slid the puck through Poulin’s five hole to give Syracuse a five-goal lead.

Laval didn’t give up, however, and when Corey Schueneman put a shot on net, Joel Teasdale got a piece of it to score on Max Lagace.

The scoring would dry up for both teams at that point, despite there being about 12 minutes left on the clock. The end of this one couldn’t come fast enough.

What’s Next?

Plus / Minus

▲ Rem Pitlick, Corey Schueneman

▼ Eric Williams, Mitchell Stephens