The Laval Rocket thought they had two tying goals in the final 2:40, but in the end they would lose 4-3 in regulation to the Abbotsford Canucks on Saturday afternoon at Place Bell.
Abbotsford took a slashing penalty with 12 seconds left giving Laval one final opportunity. The Rocket appeared to tie the game, but Philippe Maillet’s shot crossed the line after the green light came on, indicating time expired.
The first tying goal came with 2:40 left when they tied the game at 3-3. Lias Andersson potted home a rebound on the power play, but it was not to be as just 13 seconds later, Abbotsford re-took the lead on Tristen Nielsen’s third goal of the game.
It was a slower start to the game after Friday night’s 11 goal outburst. The two teams had a few shots each, but nothing really dangerous, including an early power play for the Canucks when the Rocket had too many players on the ice.
After the penalty Joshua Roy had a shot in close saved by Nikita Tolopilo, and on the same shift made a great defensive play stripping the puck from a Canuck in a strong shooting position. Laval continued to pressure and have zone time but were unable to score.
The Rocket had a power play of their own in the second half of the period, and the best chances came on the tail end on a nice rush by Mattias Norlinder and the puck found Philippe Maillet in the slot but he was unable to capitalize.
Abbotsford scored shortly after the penalty expired. Jett Woo’s shot was tipped in the high slot by Tristen Nielsen, and the puck got behind Strauss Mann. The Canucks kept coming as Linus Karlsson and Vasili Podkolzin had chances right after, but Mann made the saves.
The Canucks took a 2-0 lead on a mess of a sequence for the Rocket. After a faceoff win, the puck went into the corner and the three Rocket forwards flew out of the zone. The Canucks pressured Logan Mailloux, created the turnover, and Aidan McDonough, the former Northeastern captain, scored his first career AHL goal with the tons of open space.
The Rocket had a power play right after the goal in the final two minutes of the first period, but did not capitalize, and didn’t even really test Tolopilo.
The game turned in the second period. Joel Armia continued his strong play, dominating puck battles, and driving the net. The line of Armia, Sean Farrell, and Mitchell Stephens drew a penalty early in the period, but were unable to convert on the power play.
The Rocket continued slowly building but were unable to break through. Things got worse when Emil Heineman was forced to leave the game after colliding with an official. He did not return, and the team did not have a further update on him saying he would be seeing the doctor for further evaluation.
Midway through the period, Laval put their foot on the gas to get back into the game. Another Armia drive to the net was saved by Tolopilo, but he drew yet another penalty to put the Rocket on the power play. On the power play, a cross check to Mitchell Stephens gave Laval 1:04 of a five-on-three. Laval called timeout to discuss their strategy. They got several chances, the best of which when a puck exchange down low set up a Lias Andersson attempt, but the puck just bounced over his stick.
After the first penalty expired, Laval continued to control the puck and Armia found Joshua Roy on a cross ice feed. Roy fired the shot past the Canucks goalie to make it 2-1.
Laval used that goal to take momentum. Even with a penalty of their own, they continued to generate offence with Nathan Légaré getting a shorthanded breakaway, but his shot was saved. Brandon Gignac had a similar chance at even strength a few minutes later but was also stopped.
Their strong play paid off. The Rocket went into the second intermission tied 2-2 after Jayden Struble’s shot ping ponged off a leg and right into the crease where Andersson was first on it to put it into the net.
The Rocket outshot the Canucks 19-7 in the second period.
Armia and Roy’s connection drew another penalty in the third period when the veteran held the puck and led the rookie on a rush that forced the Canucks defender into a penalty. The Rocket couldn’t capitalize on the power play.
Shortly after it expired, Sheldon Dries lifted the stick of Tobie Bisson to create the turnover and got the puck to Tristen Nielsen, who made no mistake for his second of the game and restored the Canucks 3-2 lead.
The Rocket continued to push for an equalizer. They had another power play chance, but Joshua Roy’s shot hit the bar and stayed out. Armia had another chance as well with just over four minutes left, but could not beat the Abbotsford goaltender.
Laval finally broke through and tied the game on their eighth power play of the game. With the goaltender pulled, Andersson scored his second of the game when he banged home a rebound with 2:40 left.
It was not to be. On the next shift, Nielsen intercepted a Bisson cross-ice pass and fired his third goal of the game past Mann to give the Canucks a 4-3 lead just 13 seconds later.
That led to Maillet’s almost tying goal, but the Rocket went back to the locker room without forcing overtime.
Their four-game homestand to start the season continues on Wednesday and Friday with two games against the Rochester Americans.
