Excerpt from 'Rocket Hockey Report' of host Amy Johnson commenting on the Laval Rocket's recent two home victories GAME RECAP | Laval Rocket vs Utica Comets Laval Rocket vs Utica Comets [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzNDI3MTAxNTkwNjkzMjEy/rocket-final-score.png] Laval Rocket vs Utica Comets ROCKET LINEUP Forward lines 15 Sean Farrell - 37 Brandon Gignac - 28 Lias Andersson 81 Xavier Simoneau - 61 Philippe Maillet - 10 Joshua Roy 49 Jared Davidson - 42 Lucas Condotta - 20 Gabriel Bourque 23 Nolan Yaremko - 14 Jan Mysak - 68 Riley McKay Defense pairings 72 Arber Xhekaj - 24 Logan Mailloux 84 William Trudeau - 4 Paquette-Bisson 29 Mattias Norlinder - 25 Brady Keeper Goaltenders 71 Jakub Dobes 73 Kasimir Kaskisuo Out of the lineup: Scratches: Olivier Galipeau, Strauss Mann, Nicolas Beaudin, Nathan Legare, Riley Kidney Injuries: None GAME REPORT For their first game in 2024, the Laval Rocket found themselves back on the road, taking on the Utica Comets for the first two of five meetings between these teams scheduled in January. The Rocket were without forward Riley Kidney for this game, who didn't make the trip due to an illness. Jakub Dobes was given the start in net for this first game of the weekend. Laval Rocket defenseman Arber Xhekaj [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAzNDI3MTM3ODI5NDc5Nzcy/53445254901_d17d23cec1_k.jpg] Laval Rocket defenseman Arber Xhekaj After two unsuccessful attempts by the Rocket on the power play in the first half of the opening period, Utica opened the scoring when Arber Xhekaj found himself in the penalty box for holding. Laval spent most of the remainder of the first period on the penalty kill, after Lucas Condotta received a delay of game infraction and Xavier Simoneau was called for cross-checking. The Comets managed to score another goal while on the man-advantage, but Jared Davidson got one back when he buried a wrister from the left circle. Xhekaj tied the game just three minutes into the second period when he unleashed a quick shot from the high slot to beat Akira Schmid. The Rocket continued to make discipline mistakes, however, racking up a total of seven infractions on the night. One of those penalties carried over to the start of the third period, but the Laval penalty kill managed to hold Utica off. Both teams exchanged goals again in the third period, leaving the score tied at 3-3 at the end of regulation. Utica had some prime chances to score in overtime, but the game would be resolved in a shootout. Sean Ferrell and Maillet were the only two players to find the back of the net, giving Laval two points on the night. GAME STATISTICS Rocket (12-14-3-2) Shots: 26 Power play: 0-for-2 Penalty minutes: 14 Comets (10-13-3-2) Shots: 31 Power play: 2-for-7 Penalty minutes: 4 SCORING SUMMARY Rocket Scorers 1st period: Davidson (3) 2nd period: Xhekaj (3) 3rd period: Maillet (6) OT: No scoring SO: Ferrell, Maillet Comets Scorers 1st period: Wotherspoon (4)-PPG, Foote (2)-PPG 2nd period: No scoring. 3rd period: Vukojevic (1) OT: No scoring SO: No scoring Goaltenders LAV: Dobes (W) 9-6-3-0 UTC: Schmid (L) 0-1-2-0 ROCKET PLAYERS OF THE GAME * undefined * undefined * undefined VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS Video highlights courtesy of the Utica Comets [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaG7FkDeO-o[/embed] LOOKING BACK Did you miss the Rocket's last game? Catch up on the recap here: Rocket Sweep Crunch In Back-To-Back Games | RECAP: SYR @ LAV [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/rocket/rocket-sweep-crunch-in-back-to-back-games-recap-syr-lav] UP NEXT The Laval Rocket remain in Utica for the weekend, and will play the Comets again in a Sunday afternoon matinee matchup. Puck drop on Sunday, January 7, is scheduled for 3:00 pm ET at Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, 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. Gretzky Signature Series [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAxNzAzMjM2NzQxMTEzNjIw/gretzky-northland.jpg] Gretzky Signature Series
