Pascal Vincent had made it clear before the start of the third round that he fully intended to alternate his goaltenders, and while Cayden Primeau had a great game on Wednesday night for the Laval Rocket, it was Jacob Fowler who led them onto the ice on Friday night. The move is understandable from a developmental standpoint. After all, Fowler is the Montreal Canadiens’ goaltender for the future, but it can be tricky to mix development and results. We got a prime example on Friday night.
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With Primeau riding the pine, Fowler gave up four goals on 14 shots before he was pulled from the game, but Vincent stood by his decision to give him the nod:
You can’t develop solely when it suits you. We have to see our young players. It’s in games like these that we need to see them. Fowler joined us to play hockey. I am comfortable with the decision. [To play Fowler on Friday night]-
Those four goals might not have been a death blow for the Rocket if Devon Levi had played like he had since the start of the third round, but unfortunately for Fowler and co., it was the real Levi who turned up between the pipes of the Rochester Americans last night. He saved 22 of the 23 shots he received, with Laval’s sole tally coming off a rebound that Joshua Roy only had to tap in.
The Amerks don’t owe the win to Levi, though. Josh Dunne had the game of his life, scoring four points in the 5-1 victory. The 26-year-old centerman was undrafted and started his pro career with the Columbus Blue Jackets organization. He mainly played for the Cleveland Monsters for four seasons before joining the Buffalo Sabres’ farm team last offseason. His two goals and two assists on the night give him seven points in as many games since the playoffs started.
Meanwhile, Fowler wasn’t the only one to have a tough night. Logan Mailloux, who has been very good since the start of the playoffs, was in the box for two of the Americans’ goals, a costly lack of discipline, and he committed a turnover that led to another goal. Like it or not, Mailloux is still young, and off nights are just part of the development process, growing pains as they call them.
With the series now tied at two games apiece, the fifth and final game will take place at Place Bell on Sunday afternoon. The 4:30 PM tilt will be a winner-takes-all battle that promises to be entertaining. Primeau will be back in the net in accordance with the alternating system, and it will be his chance to show that he can be clutch when it matters.
Photo credit: Jamie Germano / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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