Jakub Dobes got a second consecutive start as the Laval Rocket finally got back to the win column.
Jakub Dobes got a second consecutive start as the Laval Rocket finally got back to the win column.
GAME RECAP | Hartford Wolf Pack vs Laval Rocket
Rocket Lineup
Forward lines
10 Joshua Roy - 37 Brandon Gignac - 19 Emil Heineman
81 Xavier Simoneau - 42 Lucas Condotta - 20 Gabriel Bourque
21 Riley Kidney - 49 Jared Davidson - 61 Philippe Maillet
23 Nolan Yaremko - 68 Riley McKay
Defense pairings
72 Arber Xhekaj - 24 Logan Mailloux
4 Paquette-Bisson - 44 Olivier Galipeau
84 William Trudeau - 25 Brady Keeper
13 Nicolas Beaudin
Goaltenders
71 Jakub Dobes
38 Strauss Mann
Out of the lineup:
Scratches: Jan Mysak, Nathan Legare
Injuries: Lias Andersson, Sean Farrell
Game Report
The Laval Rocket snapped their nine game losing streak on Saturday afternoon with a 5-1 victory against the Hartford Wolf Pack. The New York Rangers AHL affiliate was the hottest team in the league heading into the afternoon with eight consecutive matches without a regulation loss.
Jean-Francois Houle dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the rematch. Nathan Legare and Jan Mysak were the victims of the coach's decision. Legare made a costly turnover in Friday's game that led to the Wolf Pack's tying goal. Jared Davidson and Nicolas Beaudin were inserted into the lineup.
The Wolf Pack got on the board on their first shot on goal as Blake Hillman's point shot hit Philippe Maillet's skate before changing directions and head behind Jakub Dobes.
Laval struck back with the equalizer 2:31 later when Riley Kidney banked in the rebound from Logan Mailloux's shot from the blue line that hit the post. Kidney's goal triggered a flood of 12,402 stuffed toys onto the ice as part of the fifth edition of the teddy bear toss. The franchise record of teddy bears collected will be given to 26 local organizations and initiatives working with families and children.
The Rocket ended the first period with a five-minute power play after Matt Rempe received a match penalty for a check to the head on a hit on Xavier Simoneau. Laval did not score during the man advantage and took two shots on goal.
The home team separated itself from the Wolf Pack in the second period with three goals. First, during a penalty kill, Brandon Gignac used his speed to create a two-on-one and beat Olof Lindbom with a top corner shot on the glove side.
Kidney netted his second of the afternoon after Maillet found him open and the 20-year-old put the puck between the goalie's pads.
With 2:33 remaining in the period, on a two-on-one, Gignac set up Nolan Yaremko to record his first goal of the season.
The Wolf Pack had a golden opportunity to reduce the lead in the third with a five-on-three for 1:26, but failed to convert. Hartford did not get any shots on goal during the entire sequence with Laval players getting in the dangerous areas and blocked several shot attempts.
In the Rocket's third power play, Davidson redirected Joshua Roy's point shot to make it 5-1.
Game Statistics
Rocket (6-12-3-2)
Shots: 29
Power play: 1-for-3
Penalty minutes: 12
Wolf Pack (15-5-3-0)
Shots: 26
Power play: 0-for-5
Penalty minutes: 21
Scoring Summary
Rocket Scorers
1st period: Kidney (4)
2nd period: Gignac (7)-SHG, Kidney (5), Yaremko (1)
3rd period: Davidson (2)-PPG
OT: n/a
SO: n/a
Wolf Pack Scorers
1st period: Hillman (1)
2nd period: No scoring
3rd period: No scoring
OT: n/a
SO: n/a
Goaltenders
LAV: Dobes (W) 4-5-3-0
HFD: Lindbom (L) 0-2-0-0
Rocket Players of the Game
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Video Highlights
Video highlights will be added when available, courtesy of the Laval Rocket
Post-Game Interviews
Jean-Francois Houle
Arber Xhekaj
Riley Kidney
Jakub Dobes
Looking Back
Did you miss the Rocket's last game? Catch up on the recap here: Belzile Returns With the Wolf Pack | RECAP: HFD @ LAV
Up Next
The Laval Rocket will be off on Sunday before kicking off three days of practice in anticipation for their next road game against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Puck drop on Friday, December 15, is scheduled for 7:05 pm ET at PPL Center in Allentown, PA.
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.
