Excerpt from 'Rocket Hockey Report' of host Amy Johnson commenting on Justin Barron being loaned to Laval and Arber Xhekaj being recalled to Montreal. GAME RECAP | Utica Comets vs Laval Rocket Laval Rocket vs Utica Comets [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzODY3Mzc4Njg4MjA2Mzk2/rocket-final-score.png] Laval Rocket vs Utica Comets ROCKET LINEUP Forward lines 81 Xavier Simoneau - 61 Philippe Maillet - 28 Lias Andersson 12 Filip Cederqvist - 37 Brendan Gignac - 19 Emil Heineman 42 Filip Cederqvist - 27 Mitchell Stephens - 20 Gabriel Bourque 21 Riley Kidney - 14 Jan Mysak - 49 Jared Davidson Defense pairings 4 Paquette-Bisson - 24 Logan Mailloux 84 William Trudeau - 52 Justin Barron 29 Mattias Norlinder - 44 Olivier Galipeau Goaltenders 71 Jakub Dobes 73 Kasimir Kaskisuo Out of the lineup: Scratches: Strauss Mann, Nicolas Beaudin, Nolan Yaremko, Joshua Roy Injuries: Nathan Legare (lower-body), Sean Farrell (upper-body), Brady Keeper (lower body) [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_iU69UZUik[/embed] GAME REPORT The Laval Rocket defeated the Utica Comets 5-2 on Wednesday at Place Bell. The victory extended the Rocket's winning streak to five games and 10 games without a regulation loss. There was several changes to the lineup as Jean-Francois Houle welcomed Justin Barron and Mitchell Stephens to the lineup, after they were assigned to the AHL earlier in the week. The 23-year-old collected three points in 23 games with the Canadiens. Mattias Norlinder returned to action after being sidelined the last two matches due to sickness. Riley McKay and Nicolas Beaudin were scratched to make room for the returning players. Laval Rocket forward Jared Davidson [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzODY2ODM5OTM4MjQ2MTM5/53485767774_ff85bbba75_k.jpg] Laval Rocket forward Jared Davidson Joshua Roy was assigned to Laval on Wednesday afternoon after spending 12 days with the big club, but was not dressed for the contest. The 20-year-old tallied two points in six games in the NHL. The Rocket got on the board first at the 11:26 mark when William Trudeau beat Akira Schmid with a shot from the faceoff circle. Emil Heineman extended his point streak to six games with an assist on the play. The home team did not take a shot on goal for the last 6:41 of the first period as indisciplined creeped in. Norlinder, Brandon Gignac and Olivier Galipeau took consecutive penalties that kept Laval short handed for the remainder of the period. Utica's power play, ranked 30th before the contest, took advantage of the double minor against Galipeau and put in a buzzer beater with under one second remaining. The visitors scored the only goal in the middle frame when Brian Halonen recorded his second of the night with an accurate top corner shot on the blocker side. Gabriel Bourque made it 2-2 in the third period right off the faceoff and jammed the puck top corner. It was the captain's first goal of the year. The home team took control of the contest later in the period by lighting the red light twice in 10 seconds with goals by Stephens and Logan Mailloux. The goal extended Mailloux's point streak to five games. Mailloux sealed the victory with an empty net goal for his 10th of the year. Houle's team worked hard in the third period and important goals by the veterans Bourque and Stephens lead the way. Barron finished the contest with two shots on goal and plus-3. After the game, the Canadiens recalled Lucas Condotta. He obtained two assists and plus-3 on Wednesday. GAME STATISTICS Rocket (18-14-4-2) Shots: 33 Power play: 0-for-3 Penalty minutes: 8 Comets (14-16-4-3) Shots: 29 Power play: 1-for-4 Penalty minutes: 6 SCORING SUMMARY Rocket Scorers 1st period: Trudeau (4) 2nd period: No scoring 3rd period: Bourque (1), Stephens (4), Mailloux (9), Mailloux (10)-ENG OT: n/a SO: n/a Comets Scorers 1st period: Halonen (6)-PPG 2nd period: Halonen (7) 3rd period: No scoring. OT: n/a SO: n/a Goaltenders LAV: Dobes (W) 12-6-4-0 UTC: Schmid (L) 2-3-4-0 ROCKET PLAYERS OF THE GAME * undefined * undefined * undefined VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS Video highlights courtesy of the Laval Rocket [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stegYHxuF70[/embed] POST-GAME INTERVIEWS Jean-Francois Houle Mitchell Stephens William Trudeau LOOKING BACK Did you miss the Rocket's last game? Catch up on the recap here: Bitter Battle in Belleville | RECAP: LAV @ BEL [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/rocket/bitter-battle-in-belleville-recap-lav-bel] UP NEXT The Rocket head on the road for two games over the weekend beginning on Friday in Syracuse. Puck drop on Friday, January 26th, is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET at Upstate Medical University Arena in Syracuse, NY. Be sure to bookmark THN.com/Montreal [https://thn.com/montreal] for year-round coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, Laval Rocket, and Habs prospects playing in leagues around the world. A free issue of The Hockey News [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk3MTk4Mzc0MTE4Nzc2/hockeynewsad.jpg] A free issue of The Hockey News
