Logan Mailloux scored on the power play with 21 seconds left in overtime as the Laval Rocket came from behind to beat the Rochester Americans 3-2 on Wednesday night.
LE BUT GAGNANT
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) November 14, 2024
GAME-WINNING GOAL#GoRocket https://t.co/Es44tqFhWb pic.twitter.com/vv0QPkXORt
It was Mailloux’s fourth goal of the season. He had plenty of room at the top of the zone and fired a well-placed wrist shot behind Rochester goaltender Michael Houser. The Rocket ended the night 2/4 on the power play, while the penalty kill went a perfect 4/4.
The first period saw the Rocket outshot by the host team 14-4 and each team going 0/2 on the power play. There were some good opportunities for Laval despite only getting four shots.
On a delayed penalty, Riley Kidney dove to find Laurent Dauphin, whose shot was stopped by Michael Houser. In the final minute of the period, Luke Tuch and Florian Xhekaj had a two-on-zero rush. Xhekaj found Tuch, but Houser again made the save.
Jakub Dobeš had to make some big saves as well to keep the game at 0-0. He made 29 saves on the night.
Early in the second period, Laurent Dauphin was hit hard at centre ice by Nikita Novikov. That led to additional shenanigans as Jared Davidson went after Novikov on the same shift, and after that penalty was killed, there was a scrum after a Florian Xhekaj interference penalty. The Rocket penalty kill managed to get through both penalties with the score still 0-0.
Following the second kill, the Rocket had another chance when Sean Farrell got a breakaway chance, but he was unable to beat Houser.
Rochester finally took the lead with less than eight minutes to go in the second period. Brendan Warren drove the net with the puck and passed the puck to Graham Slaggert in the slot who put the puck high on Dobeš and into the net.
In the final minute of the second, Laval had their best chance when the puck went off the post behind Houser, but he was able to recover and cover the loose puck.
Early in the third period, the Rocket tied the game when Luke Tuch turned at the half boards and fired a shot on goal that got through Houser. Vincent Arseneau was there to distract the Americans goaltender. It was Tuch’s fourth goal of the season.
🚨TUCH
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) November 14, 2024
1-1#GoRocket pic.twitter.com/pSYp2YCld5
A few minutes after Laval’s goal, Jiri Kulich broke in behind the Rocket defence with a breakaway but Dobeš made the save.
Shortly after, the Rocket had a power play and spent most of their time in the offensive zone using fast puck movement, and being first on loose pucks to keep creating opportunities. Finally, Logan Mailloux made a cross-ice pass to Alex Barré-Boulet who fired the puck past Houser to give Laval their first lead of the game, 2-1.
🚨Barré-Boulet
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) November 14, 2024
LAV 2 – 1 ROC pic.twitter.com/tApEkxFGuf
Just 13 seconds later, Rochester tied it. A long dump in was stopped by Dobeš but after he thought he had it, the puck was loose. Jiri Kulich passed it into the slot for Anton Wahlberg who fired it into the open net while Dobeš covered up the puck he no longer had.
Laval had a 11-6 edge in shots in the third period, but were unable to get anything else as the game went to overtime.
The first chance in overtime went to Rochester as Kristian Helenius broke in alone, but his backhand shot was saved by Dobeš. After some back and forth action that saw both teams get chances, including Barré-Boulet having a few shots that just missed the net, Rochester was called for interference on a pick play in the offensive zone. That power play set up Mailloux’s winning goal.
Laval moves to 10-2-0 on the season, and are in top spot in the North Division. Their road trip continues in Syracuse on Friday night before returning to Rochester on Saturday.