Rocket Lineup

Charles Hudon – Jake Evans – Kevin Lynch

Alexandre Alain – Lukas Vejdemo – Joe Cox

Nikita Jevpalovs – Michael McCarron – Ralph Cuddemi

Hayden Verbeek – Michael Pezzetta – Antoine Waked

Evan McEneny – Xavier Ouellet

Gustav Olofsson – Maxim Lamarche

Karl Alzner – Josh Brook

Cayden Primeau – Keith Kinkaid

Ryan Culkin, James Phelan

William Pelletier (undisclosed), Phil Varone (wrist), Noah Juulsen (upper body), Alex Belzile (day-to-day), Dale Weise (day-to-day)

Game Report

Game Report written by Chris G

Laval hosted Rochester in the second leg of the weekend series between the teams. On Friday, the Americans beat the Rocket by a score of 3-2. 

Cayden Primeau got the start after being assigned to the Rocket earlier in the day from the Canadiens. Primeau recorded his first career NHL win on Wednesday by making 35 saves against the Senators. In his last start in the AHL, he allowed five goals on 38 shots to Springfield on November 30th. 

Michael McCarron was back in the lineup after missing the last two games due to injury. Dale Weise was forced to miss the game due to an upper body injury and is listed as day-to-day. 

Former member of the Canadiens organization, Zack Redmond opened the scoring at the 12:51 mark of the first period on a power play with a shot from the top of the faceoff circle. Brett Murray was acting as a screen in front of Primeau.   

Rochester doubled their lead at the 5:33 mark of the second period on a play that began from an offensive zone faceoff win by Curtis Lazar. John Gilmour broke free from Alexandre Alain and scored with a wrist shot from the slot that beat Primeau blocker side. Xavier Ouellet screened his goalie on the play. 

The Rocket had an opportunity to get back into the game as they had a two-man advantage for 1:29 following two penalties that Jake Evans and Ralph Cuddemi drew. They didn’t take advantage of the situation, obtaining two shots on goal during the two-minute power play.

Rochester put the game out of reach in the third period by scoring three goals. The Americans scored on the opening play of the period as Jean-Sebastien Dea beat Primeau on a wraparound. The goaltender looked slow in his movement from the left to right post on that play.

At the 4:44 mark of the third, with McCarron in the penalty box, Rochester scored their third power play goal of the game as C.J. Smith completed the one-timer pass he received from Redmond. The sequence began on Primeau’s pass attempt around the boards that was intercepted. 

With nine minutes remaining, Gustav Olofsson turned over the puck to Brandon Hickey in the slot, and beat Primeau glove side with a wrist shot. 

Laval ends their four game home stand with a matchup against Rockford on Tuesday at 7:00pm ET. Listen to full audio of player and coach post-game interviews in the player below.

Plus / Minus

▲  Ralph Cuddemi

▼  Maxim Lamarche, Antoine Waked, Gustav Olofsson, Cayden Primeau, Karl Alzner