(Abbotsford) The Laval Rocket suffered their second loss in two nights, Sunday, against the Canucks in Abbotsford. This time, Jean-François Houle’s troops lost 3-1.
Posted yesterday at 9:55 p.m.
Sheldon Rempal, Jack Rathbone and John Stevens, in an empty net, scored the goals for the Canucks (32-21-5-1). Goaltender Michael DiPietro earned the win with 32 saves. Stevens and Rathbone also provided assistance.
Xavier Ouellet replied for the Rocket (31-23-3-2) while Kevin Poulin stopped 20 shots in the loss.
After taking a 6-1 beating the day before against the same Canucks, the Rocket started the game on the right foot on Sunday, firing several shots on net in the first 15 minutes of play. who took a 1-0 lead when Rempal hit the target on the power play at 15:31.
Neither team managed to find the back of the net in the second period. The Canucks lead held until Ouellet tied the game midway through the third period.
Rathbone, however, responded about five minutes later to put the Canucks back in front. Then, with the Rocket enjoying a power play late in the game, Houle pulled his goaltender in favor of a sixth forward, but the strategy didn’t work. Stevens confirmed the victory for his team by scoring in an empty net.
The Canucks have won three of four games in their series against the Rocket this season.