The Laval Rocket showcased their strength on Friday night with a resounding 5-1 victory over the Manitoba Moose at Place Bell, reclaiming momentum after suffering a tough loss earlier this week.
Sean Farrell shone brightly during the matchup, contributing one goal and one assist, marking his continued rise as one of the offensive mainstays for the Rocket, who remains the AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. With this victory, Laval improved their record to 32 wins, 14 losses, and 3 overtime losses, staying just one point behind the Rochester Americans for the top position in the North Division.
A prior defeat to the Moose, where Laval fell 5-4 on Wednesday, served as added motivation going forward. The team set the tone early when Alex Beaucage opened the scoring with a precise wrist shot after receiving the puck from Riley Kidney, energizing the home crowd.
Despite Laval's strong start, the Moose quickly responded, drawing level just 73 seconds later. Simon Lundmark, who has struggled throughout the season, found the net, showing resilience and patience as he converted after feeding off Carson Golder’s assist.
With both teams trading blows, it was Laval who regained the lead through Farrell, who delivered an excellent pass to Joshua Roy, allowing him to navigate past Moose goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis. This goal ignited the energy within the arena, as fans felt the tide turning back in favor of the Rocket.
“Cayden Primeau regained his winning habits with 20 stops,” noted La Presse, highlighting the solid performance of the Rocket's goaltender, who rebounded after two consecutive losses where he allowed five goals on each occasion.
The second period saw Laval increase their pressure, firing multiple shots at DiVincentiis. Primeau proved to be equally dependable at the other end, turning away attempts to keep the score at 2-1. Despite several missed opportunities during power plays for the Rocket, including a near-miss by Beaucage who struck the crossbar, the team persisted.
Head Coach Pascal Vincent praised his players, stating, “This victory solidified our momentum heading to the next game,” as he reflected on the energy and cohesiveness displayed by his squad.
The Rocket finally broke through again when Farrell, showcasing his offensive talent, slipped past the defenders to squeeze the puck between the legs of DiVincentiis. Shortly thereafter, Florian Xhekaj capitalized by scoring within two minutes of Farrell's goal, putting the Rocket firmly in command at 4-1.
Laurent Dauphin, who made his return after missing four games, closed out the scoring with an empty-netter, allowing the Rocket to celebrate their comprehensive win. “Our offensive rhythm was strong tonight, and it felt good to be back contributing,” Dauphin remarked postgame.
Simon Lundmark's goal remained the only light for the Moose, who are currently facing mounting challenges this season, with the struggle intensifying as they occupy the last position in the Central Division. The Moose, now at 16 wins and 29 losses, look to regroup as they head forward.
The Rocket’s next challenge awaits as they travel to face the Syracuse Crunch, hungry to build on their latest success. Laval’s focus remains sharp, as they aim to not only avenge previous losses but to cement their place among the top teams as the season progresses.