Introduction

This past weekend was pivotal for the Laval Rocket as they faced off against the Cleveland Monsters in a critical two-game series at Place Bell. With a pressing need to reduce their playoff-clinching magic number from 12 points, the Rocket were eager to secure a win against a Monsters team fighting to maintain their playoff position.

Game 1 Overview

On Friday night, Laval witnessed the debut of Will Dineen, who had just signed a Professional Tryout Contract (PTO). Dineen slotted into the fourth line alongside Vincent Arseneau and Florian Xhekaj, while the defensive lineup saw David Reinbacher and Adam Engström shift to the third pairing. In net, Cayden Primeau was coming off a stellar shutout performance, and Connor Hughes was slated to take over in the follow-up match.

First Period Highlights

The action kicked off with the Rocket generating significant chances against Monsters goalie Zach Sawchenko, but the game turned tense when Xhekaj was assessed a kneeing penalty. However, Laval’s penalty kill was surprisingly aggressive, launching counter-attacks and creating high-danger chances even as they were short-handed. Unfortunately, Sawchenko stood tall, preventing the Rocket from capitalizing.

Missed Opportunities

As the first period wore on, the Rocket’s numerical advantage led to a power play, yet their efforts fell flat as Cleveland regained their composure. The second period started with the Rocket dominating the play, but despite close calls, including Dineen’s near-miss on a breakaway, they couldn't capitalize. A series of penalties from both teams kept tensions high, leading to power play opportunities but no goals.

Dramatic Finish

The pressure finally built up in the third period when Laval received a fifth power play of the night. It was rookie Filip Mesar’s persistence that paid off, helping set up Reinbacher for a blistering slap shot that finally broke the deadlock. However, Cleveland responded swiftly, tying the game with a goal from Luca Del Bel Belluz amidst a chaotic sequence of events.

Overtime

The excitement escalated as the game approached the finish. Just when it seemed like the Rocket were finding their rhythm, a turning point came when Riley Kidney received a late penalty, forcing Laval to kill off a key power play. In a nail-biting finish, tempers flared, resulting in multiple scrums and penalties that left fans on the edge of their seats.

However, overtime didn’t bring the expected heroics for Laval. As they struggled to find quality shots on goal, Cleveland seized the opportunity on an odd-man rush, with Trey Fix-Wolansky scoring the game-winner off a setup from Rocco Grimaldi.

Final Score

Final Score: Cleveland 3, Laval 2

Looking Ahead

After a fiercely contested matchup, the teams are set to face each other again Saturday afternoon for a rematch. With Connor Hughes likely starting for the Rocket, all eyes will be on Reinbacher as he plays his first back-to-back games this season. The battle for playoff positioning is heating up, and the stakes couldn’t be higher! Will Laval bounce back, or will Cleveland extend their winning streak? Stay tuned!