(Syracuse) The Laval Rocket went to a tiebreaker for a third straight road game on Saturday, and once again, they found themselves on the wrong side of history.
Joe Carroll was the lone scorer in the shootout and the Syracuse Crunch triumphed 4-3, while the Rocket suffered a fifth straight loss.
“I think we still see progress in our game,” said defender Olivier Galipeau, who is optimistic about a strong comeback for the Rocket. We played 60 minutes of constant effort, tonight 65 with overtime.
“Everyone talks to the guy sitting next to him. We have good chemistry. It’s just about continuing to improve, and eliminating the little mental errors like turnovers. »
After defeating the Crunch six times in eight games last season, the Montreal Canadiens’ farm club lost its two meetings against the Crunch this season. He was shut out 5-0 earlier this fall.
“It feels good to see that we are able to compete,” said the guard. The last time was a disaster. So to see where we are today, it shows [notre progrès]. »
Despite a 32-save performance, Jakub Dobes lost a fourth straight game. At the other end of the ice, Matt Tomkins was tested 24 times.
A bad start
The match got off to a bad start for the Rocket, who found themselves outnumbered after only 32 seconds of play.
Tobie Paquette-Bisson found himself in the penalty box after catching Gabriel Fortier. The latter was well located in the slot to place the puck behind Jakub Dobes when a return shot ended up near his stick.
Félix Robert, who also hit the target in the first duel between the two clubs, took advantage of the resulting numerical advantage to put the finishing touches to a tic-tac-toe started by Gage Goncalves and Gabriel Dumont.
The visitors responded with two goals before the end of the first period, courtesy of Riley Kidney and Brandon Gignac.
For Kidney, who is playing his first season as a professional, it was his third goal of the season in 15 games, all of which came in his last five outings.
Aged 20, Kidney was a second round selection of the Montreal Canadiens in 2021. He collected 28 goals and 110 points in 60 games in his last season in the QMJHL.
The scenario repeated itself in the second period. Mitchell Chaffee restored the lead to the Tampa Bay Lightning farm club with the help of Goncalves, but Jan Mysak responded with his third goal of the campaign.
Goncalves then brought the two teams back to an equal footing during a power play sequence in the third period.
The Crunch then got a short 19-second stretch of five-on-three without being able to flash the red light.
Rocket defenseman William Trudeau appeared to be injured with less than four minutes remaining.
It was the Rocket’s last game in November, as the team will have five days without a game. She will return to action with a doubleheader against the Canucks in Abbotsford, Friday and Saturday.
” It is not easy. We arrive at our new destination at 2 or 3 a.m., explained Paquette-Bisson, who plans to rest this week. People don’t see it, but we go to bed late and get up early when traveling.”