Rocket Lineup

Matthew Peca – Ryan Poehling – Kevin Lynch

Alex Belzile – Michael McCarron – Riley Barber

Alexandre Alain – Lukas Vejdemo – Joe Cox

Michael Pezzetta – Jake Evans – Nikita Jevpalovs

Gustav Olofsson – Noah Juulsen

Otto Leskinen – Maxim Lamarche

Karl Alzner – Josh Brook

Cayden Primeau – Charlie Lindgren

Antoine Waked, David Sklenicka, Charles Hudon (recalled to Montreal)

William Pelletier (undisclosed), Phil Varone (wrist), Xavier Ouellet (lower body), Dale Weise (day-to-day)

Game Report

Game Report written by Chris G

The Rocket wrapped up their three-game home stand against the Sound Tigers on Saturday afternoon. Bridgeport was playing their third game of their four-game road trip. 

Laval was coming off a 5-2 loss against Milwaukee on Friday, while Bridgeport lost to Belleville 4-3 in overtime. 

Cayden Primeau got the start in goal for Laval. In his last start, Primeau allowed five goals on 25 shots in a 5-4 overtime loss against Belleville. 

It’s the first game of the season between the two teams. Last season, Bridgeport won both confrontations against Laval. After earning a playoff spot in 2018-19, the Sound Tigers are currently last place in the Atlantic Division. 

Following Friday’s game, Joel Bouchard guaranteed that there would be changes to the lineup for the matchup against the Sound Tigers. Charles Hudon was recalled by the Canadiens prior to the start of the game and Antoine Waked was given the day off. 

Michael Pezzetta returned to the lineup after sitting out the last eight games, and Nikita Jevpalovs returned after being a healthy scratch against Milwaukee. On defence, Maxim Lamarche back in the lineup after sitting out last nine games, replacing David Sklenicka. 

The Rocket were undisciplined in the first period of the game, giving the Sound Tigers four power play opportunities. Luckily for them, Bridgeport wasn’t able to capitalize on any of them. 

For the fans that like scoring chances, they would be disappointed in the opening frame, as both teams combined for a total of 11 shots. Bridgeport took it’s first shot of the game with 7:21 remaining in the period. 

Laval had one dangerous scoring chance midway through the first, as Otto Leskinen’s penalty was expiring. On a play that started with a hard hit by Karl Alzner in the defensive zone, the Rocket went on a 3-on-1 counter attack in which Riley Barber made a pass to Lamarche that redirected the puck just wide of the net while being watched by a defender.

The Rocket were awarded a two-man advantage at the 4:46 mark of the second period as Arnaud Durandeau and Travis St.Denis were both assessed minor penalties on the same play. Laval wasn’t able to put the puck in the net, taking six shots during the full two minutes of 5-on-3 play. The only quality chance came on a play where Alex Belzile from the left faceoff circle passed the puck to Michael McCarron, however McCarron didn’t capitalize on the open net and shot the puck directly on Jared Coreau’s pads. 

Later in the second, Leskinen made a pass to the crease to Alexandre Alain, however Coreau came up with the save. 

The indiscipline continued in the middle frame with Jake Evans and Pezzetta both serving their second minor of the game. Lukas Vejdemo and Matthew Peca each had scoring chances while they were short handed but were unsuccessful.  

There wasn’t any offence to start the third period as both teams had a total of two shots in the first eight minutes of the frame. 

McCarron opened the scoring with seven minutes remaining in the game as he picked up a rebound from Barber’s shot. It was McCarron’s second goal of the season, and his first goal in the last seven games. 

Vejdemo and Evans each scored an empty net goal to give the Rocket a 3-0 win. It was Evans first goal of the season. Evans wasn’t scheduled to play on Saturday, however Bouchard decided to add him back in the lineup when the Canadiens recalled Hudon.

Ryan Poehling left the game mid-way through the third period due to injury and didn’t return. Primeau’s family was in attendance and he delivered 20 saves to record his first shutout of his professional career. 

Laval will head to Toronto on Wednesday to face the Marlies at 7:00 pm Eastern Time. Listen to full audio of player and coach post-game interviews in the player below.

Plus / Minus

▲  Karl Alzner, Lukas Vejdemo, Michael McCarron, Riley Barber

▼  Michael Pezzetta, Matthew Peca