Rocket Lineup

Joseph Blandisi – Jordan Weal – Jesse Ylonen

Jake Lucchini – Ryan Poehling – Rafael Harvey-Pinard

Laurent Dauphin – Lukas Vejdemo – Alex Belzile

Michael Pezzetta – Jan Mysak – Kevin Lynch

Gustav Olofsson – Cale Fleury

Xavier Ouellet – Otto Leskinen

Corey Schueneman – Josh Brook

Charlie Lindgren – Cayden Primeau

Tobie Paquette-Bisson, Nathanael Halbert, Liam Hawel, Hayden Verbeek, Jacob Leguerrier, Cameron Hillis, Vasily Demchenko, Arsen Khisatmutdinov, Brandon Baddock, Joel Teasdale, Yannick Veilleux (day-to-day)

N/A

Game Report

Game Report written by Chris G

The Rocket hosted the Moose on Saturday afternoon in the final game of the four-game series. On Friday, Laval snapped their two-game losing streak with a 4-3 win at the Bell Centre. 

Cale Fleury, Alex Belzile, and Michael Pezzetta made their way back into the lineup. Fleury and Belzile had been sidelined due to injury. Arsen Khisamutdinov, and Joel Teasdale were scratched for the contest.

Charlie Lindgren got the start in goal. On Wednesday, he made 12 saves in Laval’s 4-2 loss.

First Period

Laval scored first for the sixth time this year. Belzile, playing his first game of the season, picked up the puck behind the Moose’s goal line and set up Lukas Vejdemo for a one-timer goal. The score was on the team’s second shot of the match. 

The Rocket played tight defensively, limiting the Moose from generating offence. Manitoba’s first and only shot was taken 14:42 into the period.  Up to that point, the only dangerous chance was when Cole Perfetti hit the post on Lindgren’s glove side.

Second Period

The Rocket extended their lead to two goals during the third minute of the frame. As Gustav Olofsson stepped out of the penalty box, Rafael Harvey-Pinard knocked the puck to Ryan Poehling. Poehling carried the puck from the neutral zone and beat Arturs Silovs blocker side. 

Belzile had a chance to score his first goal of the year when Vejdemo set him up in the slot, but he was stopped twice by Silovs. 

Manitoba continued to struggle to generate offence, taking their first shot of the period 5:49 into the period. Laval outshot 18-9 their opponents through 40 minutes. 

Third Period

The Moose got an early opportunity to get on the board. During a scramble in front of the crease, the puck wound up on Leon Gawanke’s stick, and his point shot was going in the net if it wasn’t for Ryan Poehling making a save. 

Laval continued blocking shots and closing the play defensively against Manitoba. The Moose cut the lead to one goal with 2:00 remaining and an extra attacker on the ice. Tyler Gravoac was left wide open to the left of Lindgren where he picked up a rebound to score. 

The Moose nearly tied the score in the final minute while Leskinen was serving a delay of game penalty. On the face-off, Perfetti made a pass to C.J. Suess in the slot, where his shot hit the post. The Rocket shut the door for the balance of the penalty to secure the win.

What’s Next?

Laval finished their home stand with a 5-2-1 record. The players will have Sunday off before they begin a week of practice before their next match. The coach said that he will use the week to practice special teams, and will include a scrimmage mid-week. 

The Rocket will head on the road for the first time this year when they head to Ottawa to face the Belleville Senators on March 8th at 7:00pm eastern. 

Be sure to scroll down for full audio from our AHL Report team and other members of the media in post-game interviews with Belzile, Fleury, Poehling, and Bouchard.

Plus / Minus

▲  Lukas Vejdemo, Alex Belzile, Ryan Poehling Otto Leskinen

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