The Laval Rocket once again managed to erase a deficit of more than one goal, triumphing 3-2 at the expense of the Utica Comets on Friday evening at the Adirondack Bank Center.
Owen Beck broke the deadlock with exactly five minutes left in the game, unleashing a fierce shot that surprised goalkeeper Nico Daws.
The Montreal Canadiens’ farm club obtained at least one point in a sixth consecutive match (5-0-1) and signed a second comeback in three days. Wednesday night, he erased a three-goal deficit to defeat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in overtime.
Logan Mailloux and Florian Xhekaj also found the back of the net for the Rocket (23-10-3), who temporarily took first place in the North section.
Cayden Primeau has remained undefeated in four starts since his return to the American League. He stopped 23 shots in his team’s victory.
Forward Joshua Roy hit the boards violently in the second period and did not return to the game. Head coach Pascal Vincent had no news to share regarding his state of health.
Ryan Schmelzer scored both goals for the Comets (10-19-4), who saw their two-game winning streak halted. Simon Nemec and Max Willman both collected two assists.
Nico Daws allowed three goals on 28 shots.
The two teams will cross swords again Saturday evening, at Place Bell.
Slowly, but surely
The indiscipline quickly cost the Laval team dearly, as they conceded a goal in the third minute of play.
Nemec started the attack by joining Willman on the left flank and the latter passed the puck into the slot. Schmelzer distanced himself from defender Tyler Wotherspoon and redirected his teammate’s throw behind Primeau.
-At even strength, the Rocket imposed his pace and came within inches of tying the score. Lucas Condotta grabbed the puck and fired a shot, but Daws was helped by his post.
At the end of the first period, the visitors were very combative and challenged the Comets goalkeeper, but the 24-year-old goalkeeper remained frozen.
Pascal Vincent’s men were once again the most insistent at five against five, in the second period, but a penalty to Filip Mesar opened the door for the New Jersey Devils farm club.
From the point, Nemec saw his shot rejected by Primeau, but Schmelzer grabbed the return and lodged the puck in an abandoned net.
By increasing the pressure, the Rocket was rewarded. Laurent Dauphin took a shot that hit the post, but the hard work of Xavier Simoneau in front of the Daws net allowed Mailloux to thread the needle.
The Laval residents continued to buzz in the enemy zone, but the Comets were effective in leaving them on the outskirts.
Primeau set the tone in the final third by sticking out his right pad to deprive Jack Malone of a goal. At the other end of the ice, Daws stopped a shot from Rafaël Harvey-Pinard a few seconds after the Quebecer accepted a solid check entering the zone.
As he did on Wednesday evening, in front of his fans, the Rocket found a way to draw on his resources to create a tie. He bottled up his rival in his territory before seeing Xhekaj hit the target.
The comeback was capped by Beck’s goal, his ninth of the campaign.
The two teams will meet on Saturday at Place Bell. The match will also be presented at 7 p.m. on RDS.ca.
