The Laval Rocket kicked off their new season with a bang on Friday night, battling the Providence Bruins after a long off-season marred by disappointment. Under new head coach Pascal Vincent and newly appointed captain Lucas Condotta, the Rocket showcased a fresh roster while missing first-round pick David Reinbacher, who is sidelined due to a serious knee injury sustained during NHL preseason action.

The excitement began as Adam Engström made his American Hockey League (AHL) debut, pairing alongside Logan Mailloux. Owen Beck also made his debut, taking on third-line responsibility alongside teammates Jared Davidson and Filip Mešár. With Jakub Dobeš back in goal after an impressive rookie season, expectations were high.

However, old habits die hard, and the Rocket found themselves in trouble early when Chris Jandric was sent to the penalty box for holding. Just 10 seconds into the Bruins' power play, they capitalized with Vinni Lettieri netting the opening goal — a scenario Rocket fans dread but have seen before.

The Rocket quickly regrouped, and their response was fierce. After drawing a penalty and bombarding Bruins goaltender Brandon Bussi with shots, they were ultimately unable to tie the game on the power play. Instead, Providence doubled its lead to 2-0 after another defensive mishap, with Patrick Brown sneaking one past Dobeš.

Undeterred, the Rocket rallied, cutting the deficit to 2-1 two minutes later. Logan Mailloux led a swift counterattack and assisted Condotta, who directed the puck towards Engström, allowing the rookie to score. But the Rocket's pursuit of the equalizer hit a snag when they struck the crossbar during a promising faceoff play.

Defensively, the Rocket struggled momentarily again when Mešár went to the penalty box, yet they successfully managed the penalty kill, keeping the scoreboard close.

The momentum shifted in the second period when the Rocket forced Mitch Callahan of the Bruins into a delay of game penalty. Making use of their advantage, the Rocket finally tied the game at two, as Filip Mešár found the net with a clever play following an assist from Davidson.

This goal sparked a flurry of activity, with the veteran second line intensifying their pressure. Their teamwork culminated in a goal from Mailloux, bringing the Rocket ahead 3-2.

As tensions rose, the Bruins attempted to rally with aggressive play, but Laval's penalty killers remained steadfast. Ignoring the mounting pressure, the Rocket extended their lead again with a brilliant effort from William Trudeau, who showcased skill and composure.

Even a penalty against Luke Tuch didn’t hinder the Rocket’s momentum; their defensive unit and Dobeš managed to keep the Bruins at bay. Mailloux then capped off a stellar performance with an incredible individual effort, scoring his second goal of the night.

With a final score of 5-2, the Rocket outshot the Bruins an impressive 39-14, demonstrating their dominance on the ice. After a shaky start, the team showed resilience and cohesion, arguably one of their best performances in recent history.

Next up, the Laval Rocket will face the Springfield Thunderbirds in a highly anticipated matchup, ready to build on their early-season success. Fans are buzzing with excitement—will the Rocket continue their winning streak? Stay tuned!