The Laval Rocket used three power play goals, including two in 17 seconds, en route to a four-goal second period as they defeated the Belleville Senators 4-1 at Place Bell on Saturday night.
The game changed during a parade to the penalty box early in the middle frame. It started with coincidental roughing minors to Keean Washkurak and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard. That turned the game into four-on-four. Less than 30 seconds later, Maxence Guenette took a penalty, leading to a Laval four-on-three power play. During that advantage, Jorian Donovan cleared the puck out of play and took another penalty.
That meant that the Rocket would have an extended power play as the clock on Donovan’s penalty couldn’t start until after the coincidental minors.
Shortly after the minors expired, Laurent Dauphin won a puck battle along the boards freeing the puck to Sean Farrell who made a perfect cross-ice pass to Alex Barré-Boulet, who made absolutely no mistake with his shot to give Laval a 1-0 lead.
Le premier but du match 🚀
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) March 2, 2025
First goal of the night 🔥 https://t.co/NN7hzafVVX pic.twitter.com/voXaAyekC3
Just 17 seconds later, with the Rocket still on a power play, they extended the lead. Another great passing play from Adam Engström to David Reinbacher to Lucas Condotta, and it was 2-0.
De Engström, à Reino, à Condo 🚨 https://t.co/0N4uwGLyOX pic.twitter.com/ULlBQHcvMz
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) March 2, 2025
The goal on Leevi Meriläinen was Condotta’s second of the season and first on an actual goalie. The Rocket’s captain’s only other goal this season was into an empty net. It was also Reinbacher’s first point of the season.
Laval’s power play kept clicking. Logan Mailloux passed the puck to Barré-Boulet, who made a shot-pass to Dauphin, who tipped it past Meriläinen.
Notre troisième de la période en avantage numérique
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) March 2, 2025
Our third of the period on the pp 🔥 https://t.co/YPZKOhg1Fg pic.twitter.com/dmSxjzZUpg
It was the third Laval power play goal of the period, and they finished the game 3/3. By contrast, the Senators missed both of their power play opportunities in the first period and finished the night 0/4 with the advantage.
The Rocket weren’t done, though. Fifty seconds after Dauphin’s goal, Jared Davidson banged home his own rebound after a missed shot to make it 4-0 with 2:48 remaining in the period.
4 À 0!!!!! https://t.co/4XAbHOOBc6 pic.twitter.com/IEpQR6VpkJ
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) March 2, 2025
With four goals, the Rocket finished the period with almost as many goals as the Senators had shots (five) and Meriläinen had saves (also five). Shots in the second period were 9-5 Laval.
The Senators would start to fight back in the third period, but they would only manage to barely break Connor Hughes’ shutout bid. Jorian Donovan scored his first career AHL goal with only four seconds remaining. Hughes made 25 saves and snapped a personal two-game losing streak.
Laval inched closer to the Rochester Americans, who lost in a shootout to the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday. The Rocket are now three points behind with two games in hand.
The Rocket have three more home games next week, hosting the Utica Comets on Wednesday, before a huge back-to-back against the division-leading Americans on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
Standings
