(Laval) Cole Caufield finally found the back of the net and collected an assist for the Laval Rocket, who nevertheless lost 5-3 to the Utica Comets in the American Hockey League on Saturday night.
Jesse Ylönen and Jean-Sébastien Dea also blackened the scoresheet for the Rocket (6-1-1), who benefited from 32 saves by goalkeeper Cayden Primeau.
Joe Gambardella scored twice and Nico Daws turned back 33 shots in goal for the Comets, which have remained perfect so far this season.
Graeme Clark, Ryan Schmelzer and Marian Studenic, in an empty net, completed the score for the Comets (9-0-0). Frédérik Gauthier and Jérémy Groleau each added two assists to their record.
The Comets led 2-0 in the second period before Dea and Caufield – the Hobey-Baker Trophy winner awarded to last year’s NCAA MVP who was assigned to the Canadiens’ school club in order to regain his bearings in attack – do not create a tie after scoring in an interval of less than three minutes.
Ylönen then gave the Rocket the lead 3-2 with 43 seconds into the third period, but Gambardella squeezed his second of the afternoon midway through the field before Clarke made it 4-3 in favor of the Comets with 1 : 43 to run on the dial.
Studenic sealed the outcome of the game by shooting into an empty net 23 seconds later.