The latest meeting between the Laval Rocket and the Belleville Senators proved to be a physical contest consisting of no less than four separate fights.
The latest meeting between the Laval Rocket and the Belleville Senators proved to be a physical contest consisting of no less than four separate fights.
GAME RECAP | Belleville Senators vs Laval Rocket
Rocket Lineup
Forward lines
81 Xavier Simoneau - 61 Philippe Maillet - 28 Lias Andersson
21 Riley Kidney - 37 Brendan Gignac - 19 Emil Heineman
12 Filip Cederqvist - 42 Lucas Condotta - 20 Gabriel Bourque
49 Jared Davidson - 14 Jan Mysak - 68 Riley McKay
Defense pairings
72 Arber Xhekaj - 24 Logan Mailloux
84 William Trudeau - 4 Paquette-Bisson
13 Nicolas Beaudin - 44 Olivier Galipeau
Goaltenders
71 Jakub Dobes
73 Kasimir Kaskisuo
Out of the lineup:
Scratches: Mattias Norlinder, Strauss Mann
Injuries: Nathan Legare (lower-body), Sean Farrell (upper-body), Brady Keeper (lower body)
Game Report
The Laval Rocket began a home-to-home series against the Belleville Senators on Friday at Place Bell with a 5-2 win. The victory extended Laval's streak to eight games without a regulation loss.
Nicolas Beaudin slotted in the lineup in the place of Mattias Norlinder sidelined due to sickness.
For the first time this year against the Senators, the Rocket got on the board first. With less than three minutes remaining in the first period, on a two-on-one rush, Lucas Condotta shot the puck blocker side behind Leevi Merilainen. The goal snapped Condotta's scoring drought of 11 games, from his last goal on December 15th.
The action heated up in the second period with the teams combining for 37 penalty minutes. As the period went on, the post whistle scrums were getting increasingly spirited.
Belleville tied the game during a four-on-four sequence when Tyler Kleven split the defensemen Nicolas Beaudin and Olivier Galipeau before going top corner on Jakub Dobes.
The home team bounced back with a pair of quick goals. First, during a power play, Brendan Gignac made a between the legs pass to Philippe Maillet and he had an open net to bury the puck. The goal extended Maillet's point streak to eight games.
Jan Mysak increased the lead to two goals 1:08 later when Merilainen couldn't control Logan Mailloux's blast from the point and Mysak tapped in the trickling puck.
The Senators cut the deficit to one goal during a five-minute major on Emil Heineman when Jacob Larsson went around William Trudeau and cut to the net before beating Dobes between the pads.
Mysak added his second of the contest early in the third period with a backhander that hit the goaltender and bounced behind the red line.
The fireworks continued in the third period with Lucas Condotta and Arber Xhekaj dropping the gloves in a span of 33 seconds. The 9,745 fans inside the walls of Place Bell were on their feet as Xhekaj decisively won his fight against former Rocket Brennan Saulnier.
Brandon Gignac sealed the victory with an empty net goal in the final moments of the game.
Jean-Francois Houle confirmed that Kasimir Kaskikuo will start on Saturday. The coach added that he feels that the veteran's previous AHL experience playing in Belleville and his calmness will be beneficial for his club.
Game Statistics
Rocket (16-14-4-2)
Shots: 35
Power play: 1-for-5
Penalty minutes: 48
Senators (18-14-2-2)
Shots: 30
Power play: 1-for-5
Penalty minutes: 37
Scoring Summary
Rocket Scorers
1st period: Condotta (5)
2nd period: Maillet (9)-PPG, Mysak (7)
3rd period: Mysak (8), Gignac (12)-ENG
OT: n/a
SO: n/a
Senators Scorers
1st period: No scoring
2nd period: Kleven (2), Larsson (5)-PPG
3rd period: No scoring
OT: n/a
SO: n/a
Goaltenders
LAV: Dobes (W) 11-6-4-0
BEL: Merilainen (L) 4-4-1-0
Rocket Players of the Game
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Post-Game Interviews
Jean-Francois Houle
Jan Mysak
Lucas Condotta
Gabriel Bourque
Looking Back
Did you miss the Rocket's last game? Catch up on the recap here: Cederqvist Makes His Rocket Debut | RECAP: MB @ LAV
Up Next
Both teams jumped on the bus immediately following the game and headed to Belleville for the rematch on Saturday.
Puck drop on Saturday, January 20th, is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET at CAA Arena in Belleville, ON.
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