Rocket flames out as streaking Comets get rid of Laval in AHL playoffs

Article content material

The Laval Rocket was two seconds away from forcing a 3rd, and deciding, sport in its preliminary-round playoff sequence in opposition to the Utica Comets.

Article content material

As a substitute, the Rocket’s season got here to a crashing halt Friday night time in heartbreaking trend.

Article content material

Samuel Laberge’s objective at 2:45 of time beyond regulation carried the Comets to a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over the Rocket — and a two-game sweep of the quarter-final sequence — earlier than 3,522 spectators at Adirondack Financial institution Middle.

Laberge, a 6-foot-2, 206-pound left-winger from Châteauguay who was by no means drafted, tipped Simon Nemec’s shot from the purpose previous goaltender Cayden Primeau, who performed a valiant sport for Laval. William Trudeau, the Rocket’s 20-year-old rookie defenceman, was draped over Laberge on the objective, however didn’t thwart the chance.

Laberge scored eight targets and 16 factors in 43 video games this season.

Utica defenceman Reilly Walsh despatched the sport into time beyond regulation with solely two seconds remaining in regulation time. With goalie Nico Daws pulled for an additional skater — and after the Comets killed off a late third-period hooking penalty in opposition to Tyce Thompson — Walsh, on his twenty fourth birthday, scored on a shot from the purpose previous a screened Primeau, who repeatedly stored the guests within the sport for nearly the complete 60 minutes.

Article content material

Article content material

Defenceman Frédéric Allard opened the scoring for Laval, seven minutes into the second interval. It was the one lead the Rocket had within the sequence and it nearly held up. Certainly, it was the one objective the Rocket scored within the sequence after being shut out 4-0 on residence ice within the opening sport on Wednesday night time.

Allard wasn’t dressed within the sequence opener, however was activated following an harm to Tory Dello. Allard, a third-round (78th total) draft alternative by Nashville in 2016, performed three video games for the Canadiens this season, together with the ultimate two of the schedule, in opposition to the New York Islanders and Boston, however didn’t register some extent.

The Rocket (33-29-10) had all of the momentum heading into the playoffs, successful eight of its ultimate 9 video games to say the fifth and ultimate playoff spot within the North Division. Laval additionally received 5 of six video games between the groups this season, together with all three at Utica. And the Rocket received its ultimate 5 street video games this season.

Article content material

However Laval was unable to duplicate any of that late-season magic in opposition to a poised, disciplined and essentially sound Comets workforce. Utica now advances to fulfill the Toronto Marlies in a best-of-five division semifinal. The Marlies completed first within the division. In the meantime, the Rocket, which reached the Japanese Convention ultimate final season, is left to ponder what may need been.

Laval’s offensive stars had been non-existent within the sequence. Anthony Richard, who led the workforce with 30 targets and 67 factors in 60 video games,  was held to 1 help. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, who penned a Cinderella-like state of affairs with the Canadiens this season as an NHL participant regardless of being solely 5-foot-9 and 173 kilos, didn’t register some extent.

Harvey-Pinard informed journalists in Utica following the sport he had restricted power following his time with Montreal, admitting to being each mentally and bodily drained.

Article content material

Late-season addition Emil Heineman, who scored seven targets in solely 11 video games after coming back from Sweden, additionally proved to be a non-factor within the sequence.

Whereas the Comets loved a modest 27-25 pictures benefit by 60 minutes, Utica clearly was the dominant workforce and had the higher scoring alternatives, solely to be repeatedly denied by Primeau, who stored Laval within the sport after permitting three targets on the primary 13 pictures he confronted on Wednesday.

Buoyed by Walsh’s objective, the Comets swarmed Laval throughout the transient time beyond regulation session, peppering Primeau with seven pictures in lower than three minutes. The Rocket solely threw one shot Daws’s means.

Within the opening minute of time beyond regulation, Primeau stopped a Nolan Stevens backhand whereas within the second minute as Brian Pinho couldn’t get his stick on a unfastened puck. Though the groups had been taking part in 5 apart, it appeared the Comets had been on the ability play.

Article content material

Laval may need put the sport away following Thompson’s penalty with 4 minutes remaining, however by no means threatened the 6-foot-4 Daws, who made each save within the sequence seem routine.

Together with the insertion of Allard, Rocket head coach Jean-François Houle made one different roster change, centre Danick Martel changed Nolan Yaremko on the fourth line. However nothing labored for the Rocket.

[email protected]

twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1