Rocket Lineup

Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Brandon Gignac – Xavier Simoneau

Anthony Richard – Mitchell Stephens – Jesse Ylonen

Gabriel Bourque – Jan Mysak – Alex Belzile

Lucas Condotta – Peter Abbandonato – Danick Martel

Corey Schueneman – Justin Barron

William Trudeau – Madison Bowey

Mattias Norlinder – Otto Leskinen

Cayden Primeau – Kevin Poulin

Brennan Saulnier, Alex Green, Pierrick Dube, Tory Dello, Nicolas Beaudin, Joel Teasdale, Nate Schnarr

Gianni Fairbrother (knee)

Game Report

Game Report written by Chris G

The Laval Rocket began a back-to-back weekend series against the Rochester Americans on Friday. Laval was on a three-game losing streak, most recently a 3-2 defeat against the Belleville Senators on Wednesday. Rochester lost their last match 6-2 on Saturday against the Syracuse Crunch.

Jean-Francois Houle made changes to his lineup for Friday’s contest. Forwards Danick Martel, Peter Abbandonato and defenceman William Trudeau returned to the lineup after being scratched on Wednesday. Nate Schnarr, Joel Teasdale and Tory Dello were given the night off.

Cayden Primeau got a second consecutive start. On Wednesday, he made 29 saves in the loss against Belleville.

First Period

The home team opened the scoring during the sixth minute when Martel forced a turnover in the offensive zone. The puck landed on Abbandonato’s stick and he beat goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with a wrist shot.

Rochester came close to tie it while Otto Leskinen was in the penalty box. Ethan Prow and Isak Rosen both hit the iron during the minor.

Laval had their own opportunity later in the period when Jesse Ylonen set up Anthony Richard for a breakaway. Richard fooled Luukkonen but his backhander landed on the crossbar.

Second Period

The floodgates opened up in the second period with four goals scored between the two teams. Rochester got on the board first when a puck that bounced over Mitchell Stephens led to an odd man rush and a goal scored by Brandon Biro.

Laval took the lead right back at 4:17 when Jan Mysak was served a cross ice pass by Alex Belzile for his first of the season.

The following minute Xavier Simoneau dropped the gloves with Brett Murray. The tale of tape favoured Murray by 44 pounds and in height. The 5-foot-6 Simoneau managed to get the 6-foot-5 Murray to the ice.

Justin Barron netted his first in a Laval uniform when Richard set him up in the slot after fighting off a defender. The assist extended Richard’s point streak to three games.

Laval needed 12 seconds into their second power play to extend the lead to three goals as Ylonen made a spectacular pass to Simoneau for the tap in. It was Simoneau’s first goal as a professional.

Third Period

The Rocket continued to light the red lamp in the third period with another four goals.

First, Abbandonato set up Lucas Condotta for a goal on a two-on-one rush.

Later in the period, Corey Schueneman ended Luukkonen’s night by beating him with a blocker side goal from the faceoff dot. Simoneau collected an assist on the play to complete the Gordie Howe hat trick.

The Rocket were killing a double-minor to Condotta when Richard beat goalie Michael Houser for the goal.

Barron made the score 8-1 during a power play with his second of the night.

What’s Next?

Friday’s victory snapped Laval’s three game losing streak. After being scratched on Wednesday, Abbandonato and Martel each had a three-point night.

The two division rivals will square off again on Saturday at 3:00 pm Eastern.

Be sure to scroll down for audio clips from tonight’s post-game media interviews with Mysak, Barron, Simoneau, Abbandonato and Houle, conducted by the AHL Report and other members of the press.

Plus / Minus

▲ Cayden Primeau, Danick Martel, Otto Leskinen, Justin Barron, Xavier Simoneau, Peter Abbandonato

▼ Mitchell Stephens