Brett Murray’s shorthanded goal with 14:51 remaining in the third period was the game-winner as the Rochester Americans defeated the Laval Rocket 3-1 on Saturday at Place Bell in Laval.
During a Rocket power play, Justin Richards flipped the puck over Logan Mailloux, who had to choose between guarding the line and defending a streaking Brett Murray. Murray was left alone and a deke beat Rocket goaltender Jakub Dobeš to give Rochester a 2-1 lead early in the third period.
BRETT MURRAY SHORTHANDED GOAL ARE YOU KIDDING⁉️ 2-1! pic.twitter.com/BIZrgdCK29
— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) February 3, 2024
The goal ended a wild stretch to start to the period that saw the Americans start on a power play, and the Rocket forced to kill 24 seconds of a five-on-three advantage less than a minute into the frame before earning a power play of their own. That power play led to the game-winning goal.
A late push ended when Mason Jobst beat Brandon Gignac in a race to a loose puck, and he potted the empty net goal with 47 seconds remaining. Laval outshot Rochester 11-8 in the third period and 33-28 overall, but could only muster one goal on Montreal-born Devon Levi, who got the start. Levi made 32 saves in the win.
The Americans opened the scoring midway through the first period when Isak Rosen started the play with a zone entry and finished it by crashing the net and knocking in a Jiri Kulich rebound past Dobeš.
A pair of beautiful passes and a quick stick in front by Isak Rosén got the Amerks are ON THE BOARD FIRST! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/T4lI1FdZr9
— Rochester Americans (@AmerksHockey) February 3, 2024
Laval tied the game 1:42 into the second period when Brandon Gignac broke in alone on Levi, and made a beautiful deke to get the puck past the Rochester goaltender Levi. It was Gignac’s 14th goal of the season. The Rocket’s leading scorer now sits in a tie for fifth in AHL scoring with 42 points in 43 games at the All-Star break.
C’est si beau
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) February 3, 2024
So beautiful https://t.co/bmFjajF7h6 pic.twitter.com/Fu6vZcCnw9
The shorthanded goal by Murray to win the game was the only special teams goal of the game as Rochester went 0/3 on the power play while the Rocket went 0/4.
The Rocket and Americans split the weekend series, and the loss knocks Laval out of a playoff spot and into sixth place. Third place and seventh place in the AHL North Division are separated by only three points. The top five teams make the playoffs, making for what should be a wild ride for the remaining 29 games of Laval’s season.
The AHL All-Star Weekend starts Sunday with the skills competition and the game is Monday night in San Jose. Logan Mailloux will be the team’s lone representative.
The Rocket’s next games will be a weekend set in Toronto when they face the Marlies on February 9 and 10.
Lineup
L’alignement
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) February 3, 2024
Lineup#GoRocket @PizzaPizzaLtd pic.twitter.com/4HkG4bKUES
The only change from Friday’s win was Jared Davidson in for Filip Cederqvist. Dobeš made 25 saves in his second start in two days.
