The final game in the season series against Abbotsford involved special teams, teddy bears, a fight, and a close score until almost the end.
The final game in the season series against Abbotsford involved special teams, teddy bears, a fight, and a close score until almost the end.
GAME RECAP | Laval Rocket vs Abbotsford Canucks
Rocket Lineup
Forward lines
21 Riley Kidney - 42 Lucas Condotta - 19 Emil Heineman
81 Xavier Simoneau - 37 Brandon Gignac - 10 Joshua Roy
61 Philippe Maillet - 49 Jared Davidson - 20 Gabriel Bourque
68 Riley McKay - 14 Jan Mysak - 17 Nathan Legare
Defense pairings
4 Tobie Paquette-Bisson - 24 Logan Mailloux
84 William Trudeau - 44 Olivier Galipeau
13 Nicolas Beaudin - 25 Brady Keeper
Goaltenders
71 Jakub Dobes
38 Strauss Mann
Out of the lineup:
Scratches: Nolan Yaremko
Injuries: Lias Andersson, Sean Farrell
Game Report
Having never won a game when visiting Abbotsford, and looking to snap a six-game losing streak, the Rocket headed into Saturday night's game hoping that the Canucks' teddy bear toss night would bring some joy to Laval's bench as well.
Blink and you would have missed a lot of action early in this game. 14 seconds after the opening faceoff, Olivier Galipeau was called for a four-minute high-sticking penalty. Nathan Legare then scored a shorthanded goal, but 16 seconds later Abbotsford got it right back.
That power play goal, by Chase Wouters, triggered the teddy bears to come sailing down onto the ice. After a delay for stuffed animal cleanup, the game resumed, and the Canucks still had the second half of a power play to work with, as Wouters' goal happened in the first two minutes of the man advantage.
While they didn't score in those two additional minutes, Wouters did pot another one just after the penalty expired to give Abbotsford their first lead. Seconds later, Arshdeep Bains added another goal to the Canucks' tally, chasing Jakub Dobes from the crease just under four minutes into the game.
The game settled down after that for a bit, but Laval found a second wind towards the end of the first period when Emil Heineman cleaned up a rebound to pull Laval within a goal. Then Xavier Simoneau potted a power play goal to even the score at 3-3 prior to the first intermission.
Both goaltenders stood their ground for most of the remainder of the game. Neither team was able to score in the second period, although there were some quality chances, and it took until almost seven minutes left in regulation for Abbotsford to break the tie and hand Laval their seventh consecutive loss.
As a result, the Rocket found themselves swept in the four-game season series, and will have to wait until next year to try to register the franchise's first win in Abbotsford.
Game Statistics
Rocket (5-11-3-1)
Shots: 31
Power play: 1-for-2
Penalty minutes: 13
Canucks (13-5-1-0)
Shots: 27
Power play: 1-for-4
Penalty minutes: 9
Scoring Summary
Rocket Scorers
1st period: Legare (3)-SHG, Heineman (1), Simoneau (4)-PPG
2nd period: No scoring
3rd period: No scoring
OT: n/a
SO: n/a
Canucks Scorers
1st period: Wouter (3)-PPG, Wouter (4), Stevens (5)
2nd period: No scoring
3rd period: Nielson (5)
OT: n/a
SO: n/a
Goaltenders
LAV: Dobes, Mann (L) 2-6-2-0
ABB: Tolopilo (W) 5-3-0-0
Rocket Players of the Game
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Video Highlights
Video highlights will be added when available, courtesy of the Abbotsford Canucks
Looking Back
Did you miss the Rocket's last game? Catch up on the recap here: Heineman Returns to Rocket Lineup | RECAP: LAV @ ABB
Up Next
The Rocket finally head back home to get ready for some games in front of the Place Bell crowd. They'll welcome the Belleville Senators on Wednesday night.
Puck drop on Wednesday, December 6, is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET at Place Bell in Laval, QC.
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.
