Rocket Lineup

Charles Hudon – Jake Evans – Riley Barber

Yannick Veilleux – Michael McCarron – Joe Cox

Alexandre Alain – Kevin Lynch – Ralph Cuddemi

Michael Pezzetta – Nikita Jevpalovs – Garrett Mitchell

Gustav Olofsson – Xavier Ouellet

Otto Leskinen – Evan McEneny

Karl Alzner – Josh Brook

Cayden Primeau – Keith Kinkaid

James Phelan, Hayden Verbeek, Antoine Waked, Maxim Lamarche, William Pelletier, Michael McNiven

Phil Varone (wrist), Noah Juulsen (upper body), Alex Belzile (pectoral surgery), Andrew Sturtz

Game Report

Game Report written by Chris G

The Rocket opened up the new year by hosting the Phantoms for the first time this season. Lehigh Valley won both games between the teams last season. Laval had won their last two games, while their opponents had won only two of their last nine games. 

Riley Barber rejoined the club after playing with Montreal since December 8th. His former teammate with the Hershey Bears, Garrett Mitchell, signed a professional tryout contract earlier in the day, and made his season debut. Mitchell had six goals and 14 assists in 32 games played with the Reading Royals in the ECHL. 

Cayden Primeau got the start between the pipes. In his last start, he allowed one goal on 26 shots in a win against the Toronto Marlies.  

Laval opened up the scoring 4:25 into the first period on a play that started from a turnover created in the neutral zone that Gustav Olofsson brought into the offensive zone, and made a pass to Jake Evans that scored. That goal extended Evans’ goal streak to three games. 

With 1:10 remaining in the opening frame Charles Hudon scored with a blast from the right faceoff circle on a one-timer courtesy of a pass by Xavier Ouellet. The goal extended Hudon’s streak to three games. 

Lehigh Valley opportunities came with the man advantage while Josh Brook was in the penalty box. The home team did a great job defending during the remainder of the period, allowing the first shot at the 8:48 mark of the game.  

Laval increased their lead to three goals at 12:23 of the second period, on a play that started when Barber circled around Kurtis Gabriel and found Evan McEneny at the doorstep. McEneny just had to tap the puck passed Jean-Francois Berube for his second goal of the season. Barber’s assist extended his point streak to six games. 

The ice was still wet when the captain scored to increase his team’s lead. Ouellet scored his seventh goal of the season, 11 seconds into the third period with a point shot that went in the net through traffic. It was Ouellet’s second point of the game and extended his point streak to three games. 

Primeau made several key saves including a consecutive glove and pad save in the middle frame to keep the Phantoms off the board. Lehigh Valley had several scoring chances from up close in the third period, but wasn’t able to get any pucks behind the goaltender. It was Primeau’s second shutout of the season. 

The Rocket will host the Crunch on Saturday at 7:00 pm eastern time. Listen to full audio of player and coach post-game interviews in the player below.

Plus / Minus

▲  Jake Evans, Gustav Olofsson, Riley Barber, Charles Hudon, Cayden Primeau

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