The Laval Rocket was at the heart of an excellent streak which allowed it to settle in last place giving access to the playoffs in the North Division, but the Comets played spoilsport in Utica.
Ryan Schmelzer broke the tie with less than five minutes remaining in the match on Wednesday, and the Comets won 3-1 to move within three points of the team led by Jean-François Houle, with two games in hand.
I found that we lacked energy at the end of the third period. If we had scored on the power play, it would have been different, but they played a good game. It was a close match and they had the upper hand.
Chase Stillman and Filip Engaras also found the back of the net for the Comets, who still remain in 7th and last place in the North Division. Akira Schmid stopped 23 pucks.
The visitors were unable to take advantage of the excellent outing of Jakub Dobes, author of 29 saves. Jacob Perreault was his only teammate to make the red light sparkle.
The Rocket thus completed its five-game trip away from Laval with a 3-2-0 record. He was riding a three-game winning streak before facing the Comets and had won seven of his last eight meetings.
The Montreal Canadiens’ farm club still has eight games to play this season. He will play his next two games against the Belleville Senators, Saturday and Sunday, at Place Bell.
The Senators are 6th in the division with two games in hand on the Rocket.
We won three games on the road, but it will be good to come home and rest, said Houle. Friday will arrive very quickly for the players. We’re going to give ourselves a little time and we’re going to see what we’re going to do with our training.
Little action
The first six minutes of play were the affair of the Rocket, who largely dominated his opponent. He was constantly in Comets territory, taking the first three shots of the night.
Perreault, however, received a penalty in the offensive zone which allowed the local favorites to obtain the first numerical superiority of the match. This changed the shape of the game, with the next six shots going to the Comets.
Against his former team, Nathan Légaré was also sent to the penalty box for obstructing Dobes. Despite four penalties in the first period, the score was still 0-0 after 20 minutes of action.
Perreault made sure to put the Rocket on the scoreboard after just 31 seconds in the second period. He redirected a pass from his captain Gabriel Bourque behind Schmid.
It was the Rocket’s first point in seven games since being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in early March.
It’s been a while since I scored, so it feels good to take the pressure off my shoulders. But what I remember is the defeat. It’s really disappointing.
The Quebecer also ended a drought of 15 games without a point in the American Hockey League. He has 8 goals and 19 points in 38 games this season.
Stillman brought both teams back to square one 2:41 into the third period when he made a one-timer that hit the target.
Emil Heineman then sank the Rocket with a blind pass in the defensive zone. Schmelzer took the opportunity to break the tie. He scored his 17th success of the campaign with 4:03 remaining in the game. Engaras completed the equation in an empty net.
After the second period, we were comfortable, but we didn’t come out strong in the third period and we learned the wrong way
declared Tobie Paquette-Bisson.
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