(Laval) Lias Andersson scored two goals and the Laval Rocket completed the sweep of the Manitoba Moose by winning 4-1, Saturday afternoon, at Place Bell.
The two teams faced each other for the second time in less than 24 hours and the Laval residents once again collected the two points, after triumphing 5-2 on Friday.
Andersson threaded the needle for a third consecutive game and he has collected seven points in his last four outings.
Logan Mailloux and Emil Heineman, in an empty net, also scored for the Rocket (15-14-6), who went above the .500 mark for the first time this season. He also obtained at least one point in his last seven games (6-0-1).
Kasimir Kaskisuo stopped 28 pucks for the Montreal Canadiens’ farm club. He has won his three starts since signing his contract with the team in mid-December.
Kristian Reichel denied Kaskisuo a shutout with 6:25 left in the game. The Moose (12-20-0) suffered a seventh straight defeat.
Collin Delia allowed three goals on 34 shots in a losing cause.
The Rocket will enjoy a few days of rest before returning to action at home next Friday, against the Belleville Senators.
The wind in the sails
Unlike the duel the day before, the start of the match for the two teams was more methodical and less disheveled. Kaskisuo closed the door on the Moose in the first minutes and the Rocket tried to establish his rhythm at the back of the zone.
The Winnipeg Jets farm club would have liked to slow down Laval, but top prospect Brad Lambert opened the door due to a high-sticking penalty.
Well established in enemy territory, the Rocket began to weave its web. Moose defenseman Ashton Sautner managed to partially intercept a pass from Emil Heineman, but Brandon Gignac recovered the disc and handed it to Andersson, who only had to complete the set-up in a cage free.
It was a third consecutive game with at least one power play goal for Jean-François Houle’s squad.
Before the end of the first period, she did not need an extra player to double her lead. After Simoneau and Philippe Maillet missed a scoring opportunity near Delia’s net, Mailloux put an end to this chaotic sequence by moving the strings for a second game in a row.
Already on his way, the Rocket increased the pace to dominate the second engagement thanks to his speed and hard work. He was rewarded with another goal with less than four minutes remaining.
Coming down to the point, Simoneau saw his shot miss the target and bounce behind the net. Andersson, however, was quick to grab the puck and successfully spin the ball.
The Rocket was somewhat undisciplined in the first minutes of the final third and he managed to get away with it, but by playing with fire he got burned. A long shot from Reichel found its way behind Kaskisuo to deny him a shutout.
Besides this Moose goal, the highlight of this third period was undoubtedly Tobie Bisson’s impactful check against Lambert. The young striker headed to the locker room and did not return to the game.