Rocket Lineup

Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Jean-Sebastien Dea – Jesse Ylonen

Gabriel Bourque – Peter Abbandonato – Joel Teasdale

Kevin Roy – Danick Martel – Shawn St. Amant

Alexandre Fortin – Cam Hillis – Devante Smith-Pelly

Xavier Ouellet – Louie Belpedio

Sami Niku – Tory Dello

Gianni Fairbrother – Tobie Paquette-Bisson

Kevin Poulin – Cayden Primeau

Terrance Amorosa, Justin Ducharme, Jean-Christophe Beaudin, Michael McNiven, Josh Brook

Brandon Gignac (upper-body injury), Lukas Vejdemo (upper-body injury), Alex Belzile (lower-body injury)

Game Report

Game Report written by Amy Johnson

The Laval Rocket were back to work on Monday night to kick start back-to-back four-game weeks of game action. After giving up a three-goal lead on Saturday in a 4-3 loss to the Belleville Senators, head coach Jean-Francois Houle said the team was looking forward to getting back on the ice so soon.

For the first time this season, the Rocket faced the Cleveland Monsters who were in last place in the North Division coming into this two-game series in Laval. After the morning skate, Houle told us that the Rocket players and coaches were excited about the matchup and getting to face a team they haven’t seen all season.

Kevin Poulin was given the start in net, with Cayden Primeau backing him up. According to Houle, Poulin has “earned” his place in the rotation with the numbers he has put up in his recent starts. Gianni Fairbrother also returned to the lineup for the first time since his injury.

First Period

The opening 10 minutes of hockey definitely looked like two teams who hadn’t faced each other this season spending some time getting used to each other. Louie Belpedio sat for two minutes on an interference penalty early in the game, but Laval’s PK units took care of business.

In the second half of the period, the ice began to tilt a bit in Laval’s direction as they settled into the game. Aside from a shorthanded breakaway attempt by the Monsters, Cleveland didn’t have much in dangerous scoring chances in the period.

Second Period

Intermission adjustments must have paid off for the Rocket, as Danick Martel lit the lamp just 42 seconds into the frame. The puck bounced off the end boards behind the net and right to Martel’s stick.

The two teams continued to battle for the remainder of the period, but the goaltenders came up strong and didn’t allow any more pucks through.

Third Period

Things got interesting in the third period when, with just about eight minutes left in regulation, the Monsters finally got on the board. Justin Scott managed to pounce on a loose puck off a rebound and get it over the goal line.

Despite some close calls for both teams in the remaining minutes, neither team could find the back of the net and overtime was needed.

The extra minutes were fast-paced and barely stopped for a whistle. Laval and Cleveland traded offensive zone pressure, but again the goaltenders and defenders came up big. It took five rounds of a shootout to decide this one, with Alexandre Fortin burying the winning goal.

What’s Next?

The two teams will meet again on the Place Bell ice on Wednesday night. Later in the week, Laval will host the Abbotsford Canucks for a back-to-back series for the first time in franchise history.

Be sure to scroll down to hear post-game interviews with Fortin, Martel, and Houle by the AHL Report team and other members of the media. 

Plus / Minus

▲ Kevin Poulin, Alexandre Fortin, Sami Niku, Danick Martel

▼ Joel Teasdale, Devante Smith-Pelly