(Utica) The Laval Rocket scored three goals in just over 12 minutes early in the game and held on to earn a 5-2 victory over the Utica Comets on Wednesday night in Utica.
Anthony Richard led the Laval offense with his 18e goal of the campaign, the last of the game scored in an empty cage with 66 seconds on the clock, and three assists.
The Rocket (9-13-4) posted their second straight win after winning the second of a two-game series against the Belleville Senators on Saturday. He won even though he was limited to 23 shots on Mackenzie Blackwood. At the other end, Kevin Poulin blocked 31 pucks.
In addition, the Rocket left the cellar of the North Section standings and doubled the Comets (8-9-4) in sixth place with 22 points, two more than the Comets, who however have five games in the bank.
It is also the Rocket’s third victory in as many attempts, and in barely a month, on Comets ice.
On November 11, the Rocket won 5-4, in overtime, thanks to a goal from Richard. Then, on November 30, the Laval team earned another victory in overtime, this time by a score of 3-2, thanks to the decisive net of defender Corey Schueneman.
This time, Jean-François Houle’s men did not need a fourth period to sign this triumph, thanks to their cannon start.
Lucas Condotta opened the scoring with his seventh goal of the season in the 54e second before Joel Teasdale doubled the lead with his first goal of the campaign at 10:02 of the opening period.
Less than three minutes later, at 12:58 on a two-man power play, Alex Belzile completed the Rocket’s push with his third goal of the season.
The Rocket were still playing with the man advantage when Samuel Laberge scored the first of his two goals for the Comets, just 45 seconds after Belzile’s net.
Laberge completed his brace at 5:12 of the third period, to reduce the Rocket’s lead to just one goal. However, the Laval team only needed 61 seconds to recover their two-goal lead, thanks to Mitchell Stephens’ second of the season.
The Rocket will play its next two games Saturday and Sunday in Cleveland.