Rocket Lineup

Michael Pezzetta – Ryan Poehling – Kevin Lynch

Matthew Peca – Michael McCarron – Riley Barber

Alexandre Alain – Lukas Vejdemo – Joe Cox

Nikita Jevpalovs – Jake Evans – Antoine Waked

Gustav Olofsson – David Sklenicka

Otto Leskinen – Maxim Lamarche

Karl Alzner – Josh Brook

Charlie Lindgren – Cayden Primeau

Dale Weise (illness), Noah Juulsen (illness)

William Pelletier (undisclosed), Phil Varone (wrist), Xavier Ouellet (lower body), Evan McEneny (lower body), Alex Belzile (upper body)

Game Report

Game Report written by Chris G

It was Teddy Bear Toss day at Place Bell as the Rocket hosted the Comets on Saturday for the second time in as many days. On Friday, Laval beat Utica by a 6-4 score. Heading into the game they were in a three-way tie for first place in the North Division with 25 points.

Dale Weise and Noah Juulsen missed the game due to sickness. Michael Pezzetta and David Sklenicka drew back into the lineup. Pezzetta was playing in only his fifth game of the season.  

Charlie Lindgren got the start in goal for Laval. In his last start, Lindgren allowed two goals on 21 shots in an overtime loss against the Marlies. 

The Comets scored the only goal in the opening period as Jonah Gadjovich redirected Kole Lind’s pass at the 13:36 mark while being tangled with Michael McCarron in the crease. The goal was reviewed and confirmed by the referees as the puck went into the net after hitting Gadjovich’s skate. 

The Rocket had several quality scoring opportunities in the period that they weren’t able to finish. The line of Alexandre Alain, Lukas Vejdemo, and Joe Cox had three of those unsuccessful opportunities. 

Pezzetta dropped the gloves with Dyson Stevenson in a fight where several punches were thrown by both players. 

Utica doubled their lead at 3:41 of the second period while Pezzetta was in the penalty box serving an interference penalty. Nikolay Goldobin snuck up behind Nikita Jevpalovs and was alone on the right side of Lindgren to tap the puck into the empty net. 

Forty-four seconds later, David Sklenicka scored his first goal of the season with a one-timer point shot from Matthew Peca’s pass. Sklenicka’s goal triggered 6,768 teddy bears thrown on the ice by the fans in the arena. With the assist, Peca extended his point streak to three games. 

At the 13:39 mark, Peca made a great effort to drive the puck to the net while fighting off a defender, passed to Riley Barber and he scored for a second consecutive game. Barber has gotten at least one point in five of the six games since his return from injury. 

There was a second goal review in this game when the Comets scored following a sequence with a crowded crease. There was a total of seven players in the blue paint in front of Lindgren, however the goal was disallowed after it was reviewed by the officials.  

Goldobin scored the only two goals in the third period. At the 8:41 mark, he picked up a rebound to Mitch Eliot’s shot and put it in the net as he escaped Gustav Olofsson’s and Vejdemo’s defensive coverage.   

With 21 seconds remaining, Goldobin completed his hat trick, scoring while Laval had pulled their goaltender.

The Rocket continued putting quality shots in Michael DiPietro’s direction, however he made several key stops on his way to his 41 save victory. 

Laval begins a three-game road trip on Wednesday night at 7pm ET as they face the Senators in Belleville. Listen to full audio of player and coach post-game interviews in the player below.

Plus / Minus

▲  David Sklenicka, Riley Barber, Matthew Peca

▼  Michael Pezzetta, Lukas Vejdemo, Antoine Waked