LAVAL, Que. – The Laval Rocket were hot, but they were able to contain the Syracuse Crunch to earn a 4-3 victory and confirm their place in the American League playoffs in front of a record crowd of 10,295 spectators at Place Bell.
Jean-François Houle’s club owes a proud debt to goaltender Cayden Primeau, who offered a performance that was reminiscent of those he offered in the playoffs last year, with 39 saves.
Goals from Pierrick Dubé (two) paired with those from Corey Schueneman and Anthony Richard allowed the Rocket to win. The Crunch replica came from the sticks of Jack Thompson and Daniel Walcott, twice.
This victory, combined with the Cleveland Monsters’ 2-1 loss to the Utica Comets, allowed the Laval residents to advance to the playoffs. The Rocket finish fifth in the North Division and will start the best of three against the fourth-place team at home next Wednesday. He will face the Comets or the Rochester Americans.
“It’s a huge advantage,” said Houle. We are focused on winning the game at home and getting one on the opposing rink. »
First Beneficial
The Rocket thought they had put this game out of reach in the middle of the first, as they scored three goals in 2:01 to make it 4-1.
Dubé first scored his second of the game, his 16th of the season, from the top of the right face-off circle, after accepting a nice pass from Xavier Simoneau at 12:35.
“I like when there is pressure; I feed on that to play my matches, said Dubé. There was a lot of pressure tonight to decide for ourselves whether we would go to the playoffs and not have to wait (the Monsters). »
Dubé has also upped his game down the stretch, scoring 14 times in his last 26 games.
“I had the confidence of the coach, who put me in the right chair. I had a lot of time offensively and I’m very proud of my season. If I had been told at the start of the season that I would score around fifteen goals, I might not have believed it. »
“He’s very important to us,” praised Houle. He played important minutes for us tonight (…) He is a guy who performs in important moments. We are very happy to have him with us. »
Schueneman then made it 3-1 with his sixth of the season as he recovered Richard’s throw return to beat Alnefelt with a slap shot at 13:34.
Sixty-one seconds later, Richard racked up the puck
to an opposing defender at the entrance to the Crunch zone and went to the net. After seeing his first attempt blocked by Alnefelt, Richard recovered, rounded the net and beat the goalkeeper on the opposite side for his 30th of the season.
“It’s a huge field, but the most important thing for me is that it became the winning goal,” said Richard. I knew adding a fourth goal would be important. »
After four goals on 10 shots, Alnefelt then gave way to LaFontaine for the rest of the period. He came back in second, however, as LaFontaine, who blocked all six shots he faced, suffered a back injury. Alnefelt finished with 18 saves on 22 shots.
The Crunch had not said its last word, however, and a few minutes later, Walcott allowed his team to return to the locker room with a deficit of only two goals. Olivier Galipeau closely watched the Crunch forward, but without a stick, which allowed Walcott to maneuver as he pleased.
Primeau ready for the playoffs
The second was the business of the Crunch, but also of Primeau, who made 12 saves in the middle period, including several at close range. He notably frustrated Gaga Goncalves on a breakaway, as well as Cole Koepke on a shot that seemed destined for the back of the net.
The visitors continued to apply pressure in the third and they ended up being rewarded. Walcott was able to break through the Rocket’s defense to get all the way to Primeau. The Laval keeper made the first save, but Walcott recovered the return to make it 4-3 with his 13th of the season.
The rest of the period was Primeau’s business. In particular, he stopped a lively shot from Alex Barré-Boulet, in addition to resisting the last onslaught of the visitors, who spent the last two minutes without a goalkeeper and buzzed six against five in the local area.
“We knew they were going to come back strong because they’re fighting for their playoff positioning,” Primeau said. At 4-2, it is clear that they were not out of this meeting. »
“I thought he did really well, not just tonight, but the whole last one,” Houle said of his goaltender. He played a lot of hockey, with the Rocket games, the recall of the Canadiens, the training sessions. I think he will sleep for the next two days! »
The Rocket will have two days off, which may allow some of its players to heal a few minor injuries, including Mitchell Stephens, who appeared injured in the left leg on the very last sequence of the game and who painfully won the locker room of his people instead of going to celebrate with his teammates around Primeau.
Houle was unaware of the severity of his injury as Stephens was still with the team medical team when the coach met the media. We should know more in the next few days.
