Fresh off a stunning three-goal come-from-behind victory on Wednesday night over the Penguins, the Laval Rocket were on the road against the Utica Comets to kick off another back-to-back weekend. While the Comets had struggled mightily out of the gate and sat in last place, they were a perpetual tripping hazard for the Rocket who were battling for the top spot in the North.
Following the win , the Rocket kept their lineup the exact same, with Cayden Primeau getting the nod in net once more. However, with a looming call-up likely on the way to replace Emil Heineman in the Canadiens lineup and another game for the Rocket the next day, there would likely be changes on Saturday.
The trip was quite literal for the Rocket as Florian Xhekaj got his stick in the legs of a Comets player in the neutral zone, giving Utica a very early power-play opportunity. The Comets showed why their power play was ranked eighth in the AHL as they scored less than 30 seconds into the man advantage. Simon Nemec broke through, opening up a lane for Ryan Schmelzer to the net, and the Comets captain beat Tyler Wotherspoon to the post to deflect Nemec’s feed by Primeau.
Laval’s response to the opening goal was to immediately pour on the pressure, and if not for a pesky crossbar likely would have tied the game. Lucas Condotta managed to work into space and took a centring feed from Logan Mailloux, but the crossbar denied him. Xavier Simoneau’s follow-up chances also were put just wide, but it was clear the Comets’ first goal snapped the Rocket into the contest.
The Rocket’s continued pressure created chance after chance, but Daws remained a stubborn obstacle as he kept the Comets’ lead intact. Condotta continued a strong game as he drew a penalty working below the net and gave his side a chance to level the game in the first period. The Rocket’s power-play struggles continued as they managed only a handful of shots on Daws, but none of them were able to find their way behind the Comets netminder.
It was clear as the first period reached its end that the Rocket forecheck was causing Utica all sorts of issues, but they were still lacking the finish to make it count as they trailed by a goal.
The Rocket dominated control of the puck in the second period, giving the Comets nearly nothing in terms of chances, while Laval relentlessly put pucks toward Daws at every turn. Despite the pressure, the Rocket soon found themselves killing off another penalty as Filip Mesar took a seat for tripping. Once again the Comets power play efficiently picked apart the Rocket penalty kill with Ryan Schmelzer finishing off a rebound off a Nemec shot to double Utica’s advantage.
The Rocket were grinding down the Comets on every shift, but had to do so down a man as Joshua Roy left the game due to a spill into the end boards in the offensive zone, replaced by Jared Davidson. Even with all the great passing plays, and generating rushes out of the defensive zone, it was an ugly play that finally got Laval on the board.
Laurent Dauphin circled the offensive zone, firing a shot off the post that Xavier Simoneau tried to chip past Daws. In the chaos that followed, it was Rafaël Harvey-Pinard’s rebound trickling under Daws and allowing Logan Mailloux to swoop in and gently lift his shot over the pad to get the Rocket on the board.
Mailloux’s goal brought some life back to the Rocket legs as the period wore on, and they nearly found the tying goal in the minutes after it. Alex Barré-Boulet, sans one glove, fed Gustav Lindström on an odd-man rush, but Lindström’s low shot hit all pad as Daws slid over to make the save.
With just one period left to play, the Rocket looked poised to pull off another comeback, but the Comets were not going away quietly heading into the second intermission.
While the Rocket needed a strong push to open the period, Utica got out of the starting blocks much quicker. On their first shifts, the Comets nearly restored their two-goal lead as Jack Malone pulled Primeau off his post and nearly tucked in the wraparound if not for a desperation lunge by the Rocket netminder. The chance eventually went for review, with the officials confirming that the puck hadn’t crossed the line, allowing Laval to escape the early hiccup unscathed.
Laval continued to relentlessly hem the Comets in, generating chance after chance that was either blocked or trickled wide of the net. All Utica could do in the midst of the attacks was to chip the puck out and brace for the next wave of pressure.
Eventually the Comet defence parted just enough for Noel Hoefenmayer to feed Xhekaj for the game-tying goal as the rookie forward powered his chance through Daws.
The momentum had clearly shifted, and the Rocket began to stretch the Comets’ defence further and further. Barré-Boulet eventually latched on to a loose puck and fed a perfect leading feed to Owen Beck in the offensive zone. Beck took a moment, made a slight cut to the middle, and fired a shot around Luke Tuch that went post and in to give Laval a well-earned lead.
The Rocket clamped down as the final minutes approached, keeping things easy for Primeau and kept Utica from mounting any repeated, serious attacks with the extra attacker on the ice. At the end of the game it was again the intense forecheck of Dauphin and Simoneau that helped wind down the final few seconds to seal another win for the Rocket.
Final Score: Laval 3, Utica 2
Laval will now head back to Place Bell for a Saturday evening showdown with the Utica Comets. Lineup changes are likely with Joshua Roy leaving the game injured and the possibility of a call-up to Montreal still lingering.
