(Laval) A first match is what it is: a first match. The Laval Rocket got off to a good start before the chain came off the bicycle midway through the second period.
Penalties, costly turnovers, lack of opportunism – and perhaps a little nervousness – all had their part to play in this 7-4 loss to the Abbotsford Canucks on Friday in the opening game.
The Rocket had a good offensive game. The score was 2-2 midway through the second period. There, the Canucks scored three goals in less than four minutes. The energy dropped, unsurprisingly. Jean-François Houle’s men didn’t do badly in the third period, but it was… too little too late, as cliché as that expression may be.
“We have to be stiffer in front of our net,” Houle summarized after the match. Two of these three goals, we were behind the guy and we didn’t have the sticks. These are small details. »
“It’s going to be like that quite often this year,” he added. We have several young people, so we will have a lot of learning and a lot of video. »
It remains that among the good things to remember from this first duel, there is the work of certain young people, like Joshua Roy. Every player hopes that his first professional goal is a nice one; the 20-year-old Quebecer can check this off his list, if such a thing exists.
Roy, one of the most acclaimed players during the traditional official presentation, scored the Rocket’s second goal in the defeat. He accepted a pass from Emil Heineman at the point, before serving a cup of coffee to an opposing player and scoring with a wrist shot into the bottom of the net. Place Bell vibrated.
“It was a good feeling! he admitted. It’s not like it’s an open goal. I’m glad it was a good goal, and I hope there will be more. »
Houle praised the talent of his attacker and his ability to create good plays. “Even defensively, he recovered well a few times,” he noted. He is physically stronger than I thought. He protects the puck well, he has great vision of the game. […] He played a good match. »
Armia, “good and committed”
Newly arrived in Laval, Joel Armia took no time to register on the scoresheet. Because he had to, he was the first to find the back of the net at the start of the first period. He scored a second time at the end of the match, jumping on a return shot from Roy, who therefore added an assist to his record. However, the match was already almost out of reach for the Laval team.
“ [Joel] played really well, noted Houle. I found him good, committed. He competed, scored big goals. He was good on the penalty kill, he has a good stick. I’m really happy for him, it must do him good to have scored a few goals. »
“He was talking a lot today with the guys next to him in the room,” he continued about the Finn. On the bench too, I saw him talking to a few guys. »
“I like to play physical”
Logan Mailloux pleased the crowd at the start of the third period, when he came to the defense of Mattias Norlinder, who had just suffered a hard-hitting hit in the corner of the ice. The big defender dropped the gloves in front of Chase Wouters. “Mailloux, Mailloux, Mailloux,” chanted the supporters.
“It’s always been part of my game,” said the main player, a few of whose fingers were surrounded by good old plasters. In London, I wasn’t looking for fights. I played a lot of minutes there. But I like to play physical. If necessary, I will get up for my teammates every night. »
“I liked that he was physical,” Houle said of the 20-year-old defenseman. I think it was one of the defenders who made some good stiff passes. He had a few turnovers, but that’s totally normal for a guy like that. He doesn’t let himself be imposed. »
Due to the surplus of players at the Rocket, Jean-François Houle had to make choices: nine players watched the match from the dressing rooms. From the lot, Jared Davidson, Filip Mesar, Jan Mysak, Nathan Légaré and Nicolas Beaudin. Houle was very clear: there will be changes on Saturday, for the second game against the Canucks.
“We lost 7 to 4… I think we can send messages straight away,” he said.