(Abbotsford) The Laval Rocket was served a correction against the Canucks in Abbotsford on Saturday night. Jean-François Houle’s squad suffered a crushing 6-1 defeat.
Posted at 12:47 a.m.
John Stevens scored twice as Matt Alfaro and Sheldon Rempal had a goal and an assist apiece in the win. Brandon Cutler and Carson Focht also found the back of the net as Jack Rathbone provided three assists.
Spencer Martin picked up the win stopping 34 shots for the Canucks (31-21-5-1) to snap a three-game losing streak.
In the Rocket camp (31-22-3-2), Justin Ducharme saved the honor by hitting the target in the last seconds of a match where the attack generated nothing. Goaltender Cayden Primeau had a tough night allowing six goals on 36 shots.
Cutler scored on the Canucks’ second shot of the game at 4:56 of the first period, jumping on a loose disc in the slot to unleash a sharp shot. Focht doubled the home side’s lead 11 minutes later. Then, at the very end of the period, Stevens made it 3-0 by taking advantage of a numerical advantage.
Rempal continued the demolition work in the second period. He came out of the corner with the puck before serving Josh Brook a cup of coffee, then cutting in front of the net to score with a backhand shot.
In the third, Alfaro added a fifth goal against Primeau on the first pitch of the period at 1:18. Stevens added insult to injury by scoring shorthanded late in the game before Ducharme came to deprive Martin of shutout with eight seconds to go.