(Utica) The Laval Rocket was at the heart of an excellent sequence which allowed it to settle in the last place giving access to the playoffs in the North section, but the Utica Comets played spoilsport on Wednesday .
Ryan Schmelzer broke the tie with less than five minutes to play and the Comets won 3-1 to move within three points of Jean-François Houle’s team with two games in hand.
“I thought we lacked energy at the end of the third period,” Houle commented. If we had scored on the power play, it would have been different, but they played a good game. It was a close match and they had the upper hand. »
Chase Stillman and Filip Engaras also found the back of the net for the Comets, who nevertheless remain in seventh and last place in the North section. Akira Schmid stopped 23 pucks.
The Rocket was unable to take advantage of the excellent outing of Jakub Dobes, who made 29 saves. Jacob Perreault was his only teammate to make the red light sparkle.
The Rocket thus concludes its five-game trip with a 3-2-0 record. He had won his last three meetings and seven of his last eight before this duel.
The Montreal Canadiens’ farm club still has to play eight games between now and the end of the campaign. He will play his next two games against the Belleville Senators, Friday and Saturday at Place Bell.
The Senators are sixth in the section with two more games to play before the end of the regular season.
“We won three games on the road, but it will be good to come home and rest,” said Houle. Friday will arrive very quickly for the players. We’re going to give ourselves a little time, and we’re going to see what we’re going to do with our training.
“It’s going to go until the very end. All matches are important, all points are important. »
Little action
The first six minutes of play were the affair of the Rocket, who completely dominated the game. He was constantly in Comets territory, taking the first three shots of the game.
Perreault, however, received a penalty in the offensive zone which allowed the local favorites to obtain the first numerical superiority of the match, and it changed the shape of the match. Indeed, the next six shots went to the Comets.
Against his former team, Nathan Légaré was also sent off, this time for obstruction at the expense of Dobes. But despite four penalties in the first period, the score was still 0-0 after 20 minutes of play.
The Rocket was shut out in six streaks with one more man in the game. A situation that did not please Houle.
“The numerical advantage [fera la différence d’ici la fin de la saison], proclaimed the head coach. Special teams in close games are very important. »
Perreault, however, made sure to put the Rocket on the board after just 31 seconds of play in the second. He redirected a pass from his captain Gabriel Bourque behind Schmid.
It was his first point in seven games with the Rocket since being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks on March 7. He also ended a drought of 15 games without points in the American League. He has eight goals and 19 points in 38 games this season.
“It’s been a while since I scored, so it feels good to take the pressure off my shoulders,” commented Perreault. But what I remember is the defeat. It’s really disappointing. »
Stillman, however, brought the two teams back to an equal footing 2:41 into the third period when he made a one-timer as the puck slid toward him.
The Comets couldn’t afford a loss to stay in a good position in the playoff fight and they were dominant in the third period.
Emil Heineman sank his team with a blind pass in the heart of the crease in his zone. Schmelzer took the opportunity to break the tie. He scored his 17e net of the campaign with 4:03 remaining in the game.
The Rocket was unable to respond,
“After the second period, we were comfortable, but we didn’t come out strong in the third period and we learned the wrong way,” said defenseman Tobie Paquette-Bisson.