Laval Rocket Launched Impressive Comeback Midway Through Game With Belleville Senators

Daniel Jacob’s first year at the helm of the Laval Rocket could be challenging, since some of his best players are now with the big club, but after five games, the Montreal Canadiens’ farm team sits atop the North Division, the Eastern Conference, and third overall in the league.

Friday night’s game didn’t start the way Jacob planned, as his men fell behind 4-0 25 minutes in, but the coach stuck to his guns and kept Kaapo Kahkonen in net. Kasper Halttunen had himself a night for the Belleville Senators, completing his hat trick with the Sens’ fourth goal at 5:15 of the second frame, but it was the local fan’s last opportunity to celebrate.

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Offseason acquisition Sasha Pastujov put the Rocket on the scoreboard at 11:26 of the second stanza on a Luke Mittelstadt assist, but Laval couldn’t get anything else past Jonas Johansson before the frame ended.

The Rocket rolled up its sleeve and put on its working boots ahead of the third, and it managed to equalize thanks to Brett Berard, Hunter McKown, and Filip Mesar. With the two teams deadlocked at 4-4, they headed to overtime, and Mittelstadt delivered the coup de grâce at 4:45 of the extra frame.

The 23-year-old blueliner was named the second star of the game after scoring a goal and recording two assists. With 10 points in just five games, Mittelstadt leads all players in the AHL and is fourth in assists with seven. The defenseman caught some eyes at the Canadiens’ training camp, and despite the logjam on the left side of defense, he looks like a player who could see some NHL action. At 5-foot-11 and 187 pounds, he’s not exactly big or heavy, but he skates fluidly, has a great transition game, and has strong puck control.

He’s a big part of the Rocket’s success this season despite being without Florian Xhekaj, Adam Engstrom, Jacob Fowler, and even David Reinbacher, who was recalled this week and missed his first AHL game on Friday. When Bryce Pickford is done rehabbing from shoulder surgery, he’ll make a strong team even stronger.

The Rocket will be back in action on Saturday night, taking on the Utica Comets in New York. The hosts have only played three games so far this season, and they’ve won them all. They should be an interesting challenge for Laval.

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