(Laval) The Laval Rocket fired 46 shots and scored four goals against goaltender Keith Petruzzelli, but still suffered a 7-4 loss to the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday night at Place Bell.
Posted at 10:27 p.m.
Leaders of the North Section of the American League, the Marlies (6-2-0) thus won the first of this series of two games in three nights in Laval, and recorded a fourth victory in a row.
For its part, the Rocket (2-6-1), which is at the heart of a six-game streak in front of its supporters, suffered a second consecutive defeat.
The game was played within less than four minutes in the second period, when the Marlies scored three straight goals to take a 5-3 lead.
Logan Shaw was the architect of this comeback with a brace, the first scored on a power play and the second on a shorthanded.
Between Shaw’s two goals, Adam Gaudette had scored his fourth goal of the season against Cayden Primeau, who ended his night’s work with 24 saves.
Matteo Pietroniro, in the first period, and Nick Abruzzese, during the first minute of play in the middle period, also deceived the vigilance of the young Rocket goalkeeper.
Joseph Blandisi and Joey Anderson added goals in an empty net for the last two minutes of the third period.
In the loss, Anthony Richard hit the target in his fifth straight game with his fifth of the season, on a power play in the last minute of the first period.
Goals from Gabriel Bourque, his fifth of the season, and Jesse Ylönen in just over two minutes early in the second period gave the Rocket a 3-2 lead.
Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, with his third of the season, gave hope to the Rocket and its supporters by vibrating the ropes at 18:18 of the third period, to reduce the lead of the Marlies to 5-4.
Blandisi’s net of insurance followed, however, 28 seconds later.