Dobes Solid In Dominant Rocket Victory | RECAP: LAV @ MB

GAME RECAP | Laval Rocket vs Manitoba Moose

Forward lines
81 Xavier Simoneau - 27 Mitchell Stephens - 61 Philippe Maillet
10 Joshua Roy - 37 Brandon Gignac - 15 Sean Farrell
49 Jared Davidson - 21 Riley Kidney - 42 Lucas Condotta
68 Riley McKay - 14 Jan Mysak - 17 Nathan Legare

Defense pairings
4 Tobie Paquette-Bisson - 24 Logan Mailloux
84 William Trudeau - 25 Brady Keeper
3 Jayden Struble - 44 Olivier Galipeau

Goaltenders
71 Jakub Dobes
38 Strauss Mann

Out of the lineup:
Scratches: Nicolas Beaudin, Mattias Norlinder, Joel Armia

Injuries: Emil Heineman (upper body), Gabriel Bourque, John Parker-Jones, Lias Andersson

It might seem like it's been an exceptionally long time since the Rocket last played a game, and in terms of regular-season hockey schedules, it has. After getting blanked by the Toronto Marlies over a week ago, Laval has had a week of nothing but practice at Place Bell.

The extended rest could be a catalyst to kickstart a turnaround for the team, but also would be a welcome respite ahead of a week where the Rocket will play five games over the course of seven days.

On the roster, rookie forward Jared Davidson was back in the lineup after being activated during the week from his injury rehab. Defenseman Gustav Lindstrom was recalled to Montreal on Sunday morning, in the event that Jordan Harris is not able to play. In order to complete that transaction, forward Joel Armia was sent back down to the Rocket, although he did not join the team in Manitoba.

Laval played one of their best periods of the season in the opening 20 minutes of the game. It started just 49 seconds into the game when defenseman Logan Mailloux fired a shot from the point that found its way through traffic to the back of the net. A couple of minutes later, Jan Mysak put a big shot on Oskari Salminen, which the Manitoba netminder turned aside. Tobie Paquette-Bisson cleaned up the rebound to give the Rocket an early two-goal lead.

Jakub Dobes played a strong game, making a series of impressive saves. He looked particularly locked-in during Manitoba's first power play, denying some of their top shooters on some dangerous point-blank shots. He would eventually leave the game late in the third, with what looked like an issue with cramping, but overall played admirably all day.

A second-period snipe from Joshua Roy, along with a shorthanded goal by Nathan Legare in the first period, put the Rocket up 4-1 and resulted in Salminen being pulled from the game. Both teams dug in for a tightly-played third period. Jeff Malott, who had scored for Manitoba in the first period, tallied one on the power play to pull the Moose within two goals.

But Davidson came through in his first game back and potted his first professional goal, on the power play for that matter, cleaning up the puck in the crease after another big point shot from Mailloux.

The prospects kept pouring it on, right up to the end. Sean Farrell potted a power play goal of his own with less than a minute left in the game, going top shelf from a sharp angle.

It was one of the more feel-good games and complete games of the season for Laval, but things ended on a bit of a sour note. At the final horn, defenseman Brady Keeper turned and cross-checked a Manitoba skater in the face. Both teams immediately reacted, and fists were flying.

After the game, Keeper was assessed a match penalty for the cross-checking incident, which could very well earn him a league suspension for at least tomorrow's game. In addition, Jayden Struble was handed both a roughing and an unsportsmanlike conduct minor, as well as a game misconduct. Malott also received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a game misconduct, so it's possible one or both of those players could also face league punishment as well.

Rocket (3-7-1-0)
Shots: 37
Power play: 2-for-6
Penalty minutes: 39

Manitoba (4-5-0-0)
Shots: 27
Power play: 1-for-5
Penalty minutes: 26

Rocket Scorers
1st period: Mailloux (3), Bisson (1), Legare (1)-SHG
2nd period: Roy (6)
3rd period: Davidson (1)-PPG, Farrell (2)-PPG
OT: n/a
SO: n/a

Moose Scorers
1st period: Mallott (3)
2nd period: no scoring
3rd period: Mallott (4)-PPG
OT: n/a
SO: n/a

Goaltenders
LAV: Dobes (W) 3-4-0-0, Mann
MB: Salminen (L) 1-3-0-0, Milic

Video highlights courtesy of the Manitoba Moose

Post-game interview provided by the Laval Rocket

Jared Davidson

Did you miss the Rocket's last game? Catch up on the recap here: Rocket Can't Crack Marlies | RECAP: TOR @ LAV

The Rocket have a quick turnaround for the second half of this back-to-back road series. They next face the Moose again on Monday morning.

Puck drop on Monday, November 13, is scheduled for 11:30 am ET at Canada Life Centre.

Be sure to bookmark THN.com/Montreal for year-round coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, Laval Rocket, and Habs prospects playing in leagues around the world.