(Laval) Laurent Dauphin gave the Laval Rocket a 5-4 victory on Friday night with an overtime goal.
In addition to the game-winning goal, Dauphin had two assists in the game. His teammate Jesse Ylönen also had three points, with three assists. Danick Martel added two goals for the locals.
Fans at Place Bell in Laval were treated to quite a spectacle on Friday night, as the Rocket and Bridgeport Islanders engaged in a tough and offensive duel.
In the Islanders camp, veteran Chris Terry, a former Rocket player, also had three points, including one goal.
On the goalie side, Michael McNiven earned the win by blocking 25 shots. His rival Jakub Skarek turned back 36 pucks. Moreover, between them, Martel, Dauphin and Xavier Ouellet fired 20 shots on goal.
Five goals in the first period
You shouldn’t be late for the match! The Rocket struck from the 27e second of play when Martel redirected a pass from Dauphin in front of the net to give the locals a 1-0 lead.
The Islanders responded, however, with two goals in two minutes midway through the first period. First on a power play, when Robin Salo saw his shot from the blue line sneak up behind McNiven with his eyesight obscured by several players. Then, Arnaud Durandeau gave the advance to the visitors, without help.
Keven Roy created the tie momentarily by scoring his second of the season. Paul LaDue, however, gave the Islanders a 3-2 lead one minute later on a bizarre play when the puck deflected on a Rocket player like a “pinball” game.
Martel again tied the two teams at 12:40 of the second period by scoring his second of the game on a breakaway. Once again, the Islanders replied five minutes later, this time it was Terry who made it 4-3.
Then, in the third period, Ouellet, the Rocket captain, forced overtime with a goal scored at 1:31, setting the table for an exciting end to the game.
Cole Caufield ended the game with three shots on goal. He was at the heart of several great offensive streaks, including a power play in the third period, and in overtime, but without finding the back of the net.
It was the first of two games in less than 24 hours for the Rocket who host the Utica Comets on Saturday at 1 p.m.