(Belleville) Mads Sogaard was imperial in front of the Belleville Senators net, stopping 45 shots, and allowed his team to take the measure of the Laval Rocket 4-1, Monday, in an American Hockey League duel.
Posted yesterday at 9:42 p.m.
The Rocket dominated the game, directing twice as many shots on net as their opponents – 46 to 23 – but went scoreless for the first time in their last eight meetings (6-1-1).
Jean-François Houle’s squad went 3-1-1 on the five-game road trip and will return home to begin the final sprint of the season.
The locals were the first to register for the score courtesy of Matthew Wedman.
At the end of the first engagement, the Rocket will level the mark. Tory Dello’s slapshot was redirected by Gabriel Bourque without it reaching the target. The puck hit the boards before coming back in front of the net and it was at this moment that Danick Martel jumped on it to surprise the opposing goaltender.
The Senators regained their lead in the second period when Zac Leslie beat Cayden Primeau with a long shot.
The rest was the business of Sogaard, who multiplied the key stops. In the third period Wedman doubled the lead for the hosts, who never looked back.
Andrew Agozzino completed the job in an empty net.
Despite the setback, the Rocket are 11-3-3 since March 18, helping them take control of No. 2 in the North Division.
Back from his stint with the Montreal Canadiens, goalkeeper Primeau stopped 20 shots.
The Rocket will finally return to their home on Friday to face the Toronto Marlies. There are only five games left in the Rocket’s season, including three against the Marlies and two against their virtual playoff opponent, the Syracuse Crunch.