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Rocket vs. Comets recap & highlights: Late goal sinks Laval after strong start

Posted on by Jared Book
Jakub Dobeš made 37 saves in the loss. (Photo by Matt Garies / Arena du Rocket Inc.)

Brian Halonen scored twice in the third period, including the winning goal with under 39 seconds remaining to lead the Utica Comets to a 4-3 win over the Laval Rocket on Wednesday night at Place Bell.

Both Halonen goals were scored on the power play, and bookended the final frame. The game-winner came while Lucas Condotta took a penalty for high sticking with only 1:03 remaining in the game. Halonen’s shot deflected off a Rocket defender and past Rocket goaltender Jakub Dobeš.

The first goal also came on the power play just 1:33 into the third period.

The Rocket opened up a 2-0 lead and had a 3-1 advantage, but over the final 40 minutes were outshot 29-11. Dobeš made 37 saves in the loss, and it will hurt Laval to not even earn a point in a game where they led after 40 minutes and were tied with under a minute to go. It extends Laval’s losing streak to three games after a run that saw them earn points in 10 straight games.

“We didn’t respect the game,” said Rocket head coach Jean-François Houle. “You can’t win playing just one period. We didn’t deserve to win. It’s as simple as that.”

Emil Heineman opened the scoring 4:42 into the game when he was able to put the puck past Isaac Poulter after a scramble in front. It was his eighth goal of the season.

Less than 10 minutes later, the Rocket doubled their lead when Xavier Simoneau made a perfect pass on the tape to Brandon Gignac who scored his 13th goal of the season.

Utica cut the lead to 2-1 early in the second period when Santeri Hatakka took a stretch pass and had a breakaway and beat Dobeš with a shot.

Laval was able to extend a two-goal lead once again, however. Jan Myšák scored his 10th goal of the season, and second in as many games as he is having his best stretch as a professional. Myšák took the puck behind the net and beat Poulter with a wraparound, catching the goaltender off guard.

Utica got within one goal again with 4:06 remaining in the second period. Graeme Clarke got open behind the Laval defence and fired a one-timer off a pass by Kyle Criscuolo to beat Dobeš.

Early in the third period, Halonen scored his first of two goals in the period, firing a puck from the left circle to beat Dobeš on the power play.

The Utica power play went 2/5 on the night, while the Rocket power play was 0/3 in what proved to be the difference.

Laval’s next games before the All-Star break are Friday and Saturday when they host the Rochester Americans for two games. They are the final home games for the Rocket until February 21.

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