(Laval) When teams go through a bad streak, it’s often up to the veterans to get them out of the quagmire. Philippe Maillet understood his role perfectly on Friday evening.
Maillet broke the deadlock at the end of the third period and the Laval Rocket came from behind to defeat the Toronto Marlies 5-3 at Place Bell.
While the two teams seemed to be heading towards overtime, Maillet redirected a shot from the point of Logan Mailloux to give his team the lead and sow hysteria among the 8,791 spectators.
It couldn’t have come at a better time for the 30-year-old striker, who has struggled since the start of the season. The Rocket (2-6-1) too, moreover, even though he had lost his last four games.
“It hasn’t been an easy start to the season for me and the team, but we’re starting to play the right way. The guys are starting to have a taste for victory and what it takes to win. There’s nothing like winning here. The fans are extraordinary and it is our duty to give them a good performance in every game,” mentioned Maillet.
A few minutes earlier, he had started his team’s comeback by jumping on a rebound to score his first goal of the season. Just 27 seconds later, Jan Mysak followed suit by scoring a similar goal, but on the backhand side.
“I always tell the players that if it’s been a while since you’ve scored, go in front of the goalkeeper and into the dangerous areas. That’s where you score goals, said Rocket head coach Jean-François Houle. Hockey doesn’t change. You send pucks to the net and you present yourself forward. »
Mitchell Stephens was also positioned in front of the net when he opened the scoring for Laval. Brandon Gignac, who also collected two assists, sealed the outcome of the clash in an empty cage.
Just like Maillet, the first star of the game, rookie goalie Jakub Dobes greatly helped the Rocket’s cause. Sparkling on several occasions, Dobes made 32 saves, including some spectacular, to sign a second victory this season.
“I’m improving and progressing from match to match. That’s my way of thinking. I’m more comfortable and I’m working very hard to be that way, he said. I’m starting to get used to the level. It was different today than in the opening match, for example. »
Houle used 11 forwards and seven defensemen, inserting Olivier Galipeau and Nicolas Beaudin into the lineup. Despite his appreciation of the work of his men, he does not know if he will use the same formula in the rematch on Saturday evening.
“It’s an opportunity to play with seven defensemen, like we did several times last year. It also allows you to use an attacker who is doing well a little more often. We are not sure what we will do tomorrow,” explained the head coach.
Mikko Kokkonen, Kieffer Bellows and Nicholas Robertson responded for the Marlies (4-2-2), who lost in regulation for the first time in five outings.
Veteran Martin Jones blocked 26 of 30 pucks directed his way in a losing cause.
A good battle of rivals
A bit like it did on Wednesday, the Laval team had a good start to the match. This time, however, she was rewarded.
After Jones stopped a Nicolas Beaudin shot on a three-on-one surge and Sean Farrell hit the post, the Marlies goaltender was thwarted between the pads by a Stephens throw
Dobes quickly showed signs of confidence in the first period and allowed the Rocket to return to the locker room with a one-goal priority. The Canadian’s fifth round pick stood out in particular ahead of Kokkonen and Dylan Gambrell.
Dobes continued his brilliance in the second period, putting his stamp on the match. He first closed the door on Robert Mastrosimone before creating a gem at the expense of Nick Abruzzese, following a cross pass from Logan Shaw.
The young goalie wouldn’t have said no to a second goal to feel more comfortable, but during a power play, Maillet beat Jones, but not the post to his left.
The Marlies took advantage of this chance to strike with lightning speed. Kokkonen got his revenge when his wrist throw slipped through traffic to move the ropes. Bellows then gave his team the lead just 46 seconds later, jumping on a loose puck to score his first goal with the Toronto squad.
The visitors thought they had dealt a hard blow to their opponents when Robertson hit the target following a nice exchange, but the Rocket responded thanks to Maillet and Mysak.
After Maillet’s second goal, Gignac completed the scoring into an empty net.