The Rocket defeats the Bruins 2-1 at Place Bell

(Laval) The Providence Bruins looked like a team that didn’t want to waste its first visit to Place Bell in nearly three years, but Connor Hughes had other plans in mind.

Hughes made 27 saves, including several good ones, and the Laval Rocket escaped with a 2-1 victory in front of their fans on Friday night.

Visiting Place Bell for the first time since December 17, 2021, the Bruins (3-5-0) quickly dictated the pace thanks to good pressure and good body checks. However, after hitting two posts and letting four power plays slip away in the first period, they returned to the locker room trailing 1-0.

Hughes and his defense then maintained their momentum until the end of the game, helping the Rocket (7-1-0) defeat the Bruins for the second time this season, after a 5-2 triumph at Providence on the 11th. october.

“The team we saw in the first game of the season is completely different from the one we saw tonight,” head coach Pascal Vincent said of the visitors. They are strong along the boards and in their forecheck, and they are well structured. »

“They gave us difficulty exiting the zone and keeping the puck in the offensive zone. On the other hand, we didn’t give many second and third chances. Connor was able to make the saves. »

Hughes stood out, but he also owes a lot of credit to his penalty kill unit, which was perfect on six occasions with one less player. Their brilliance allowed the Canadian’s home club to score a sixth victory in a row and remain undefeated in five home games this season.

“We have a slightly more aggressive penalty kill than last season. It helps us. We are fast and we have to exploit that,” said forward Brandon Gignac. Our two goalkeepers are incredible. We have had no complaints about them since the start of the season. »

Hughes, who has just arrived in Laval after seven seasons in Switzerland, has been giving the Rocket a run for their money since the start of the campaign. He has a 3-1-0 record, a 1.51 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage, with one shutout.

The 28-year-old goaltender took over for Jakub Dobes, who missed Friday night’s matchup with a lower-body injury. His case is being assessed daily and he could be available on Saturday afternoon, when the same two clubs face each other again.

“It was a tough game today, but good teams find ways to win. I think all the players in front of me did a good job of letting me see the pucks, especially on the penalty kill. This is one of our great strengths this season. Then in the third period we shut the door,” said Hughes, who doesn’t yet know if he’ll be the starter in less than 24 hours.

Deprived of Alex Barré-Boulet, who is injured in his upper body, the Rocket was more timid in attack and he had difficulty creating things at equal strength. Jared Davidson, on the power play, and Owen Beck, on the penalty kill, threaded the needle.

The Bruins regained momentum a few minutes later, bombarding Hughes’ net with several shots, but the Rocket goaltender closed the door. The Laval residents also limited the damage for almost a minute, during a two-man numerical disadvantage.

“There were a lot of whistles, stoppages in play. When you can’t generate speed and get into the offensive zone with possession of the puck, it’s difficult to win loose pucks on the forecheck and create space,” Beck observed.

Georgii Merkulov scored the only goal for the Bruins while Michael DiPietro blocked 14 pucks.

Furthermore, defender Logan Mailloux was back in the Laval team, after being demoted by the Canadian earlier this week.

Hughes distinguishes himself

The Rocket was faced with a numerical disadvantage from the first minute of the match and it was close to quickly falling behind. Vinni Lettieri beat Hughes with a good wrist shot, but not the two posts behind him.

After two saves from Hughes, in front of Lettieri and Patrick Brown, the Habs’ school club opened the scoring. During a power play, Mailloux slipped the puck to Davidson, who hit the target with a powerful one-timer.

The Bruins regained momentum a few minutes later, bombarding Hughes’ net with several shots, but without success.

Vincent’s troop got off to a good start in the second period and settled into the visitors’ zone on a few occasions. DiPietro, however, has not actually been tested. The rest of the period belonged to the Bruins, who played with much more aggressiveness and intensity than their counterparts. And by trying their luck, they finally created a tie.

Merkulov recovered the puck in the left circle and used Tyler Wotherspoon as a screen to deceive Hughes’ vigilance. The latter redeemed himself with less than two minutes remaining, frustrating Brown in spectacular fashion by straining his right pad.

As it did in the second third, the Laval team started the third period with confidence, despite a numerical disadvantage. This time, she was able to add a goal to the scoreboard.

Gignac caused a turnover and taunted defenseman Ian Mitchell before handing the puck to Beck. The rookie forward showed patience and hit the target with his backhand.

The Bruins increased the pressure to tie the game again, but Hughes and his defense protected the net well to confirm their team’s victory.