(Belleville) The Laval Rocket players began the weekend with their destiny in their hands as they had to play four of their last six regular season games against the Belleville Senators, their main rivals for a place in the playoffs.
Jakub Dobes understood the situation well and he shone in a second match in as many days on Saturday. The Rocket thus signed a second consecutive victory of 3-2 at the expense of the Senators.
After stopping 25 pucks the day before in an overtime victory, the Czech goalkeeper this time made 29 saves.
“He made some big saves in the third,” rejoiced head coach Jean-François Houle.
“We stay in the race and pick up points,” he added. All matches are important, there aren’t many left. The guys are aware of that. It’s important not to give too many points to the other team. »
Emil Heineman, Philippe Maillet and Brandon Gignac hit the target to help the Rocket join the Senators in fifth and last place in the North section giving access to the playoffs with 66 points. The Ontario club, however, has a game in hand.
“Everyone is happy, that’s for sure,” said Gignac. We played physical, we played simple, we played according to our identity. It helped us. Everyone was good. »
Zack Ostapchuk and Maxence Guénette shook things up for the Senators on the power play. Three of the five goals in this match were scored with an extra man.
Mads Sogaard conceded three times on 18 shots in 40 minutes before leaving the game. In relief, Leevi Merilainen blocked all six shots aimed at him.
The Rocket will now face the Marlies on Sunday in Toronto, then conclude their five-game road trip on Wednesday against the Comets in Utica. He will then end the season with two more games against the Senators at Place Bell, Friday and Saturday.
Special teams make the difference
Heineman opened the scoring with just over five minutes in the game.
A shot from teammate Lias Anderson partially deflected off Senators defenseman Jacob Larsson and appeared to be heading into the back of the net, but Heineman barely touched the puck before it crossed the goal line. It was his 13e goal of the campaign.
For Anderson it was an 11e point in eight games. The attacker was punished moments later, however, and the Senators had several good scoring chances. They reached the post twice and Dobes slowed down Bokondji Imama on a breakaway.
Another penalty, this time to Gignac, hurt the Rocket at the end of the period. Well placed in the slot, Ostapchuk deflected a pass from Tyler Kleven to tie the game with 42 seconds remaining.
The Montreal Canadiens’ farm club responded quickly at the start of the second period when they themselves obtained a power play. Philippe Maillet scored his 18e goal of the campaign with a wrist shot to the right of Sogaard.
After being one of those responsible for the Senators’ first goal, Gignac rallied by scoring another power play goal at 12:32 of the second. The Rocket was perfect on the power play in this meeting.
“Two big, very important goals,” said Houle. It has to continue like this. It helps a lot when the numerical advantage is able to count. »
Well placed to the right of the opposing goalie, Gignac recovered a rebound from Mitchell Stephens and only had to push the puck into an empty cage. Its 18e goal of the campaign made the score 3-1.
Having frequently blown his net out of its moorings this season, Dobes did it again in this match. Warned by the referees for the first time, he was then punished for delaying the match for this reason. However, he asserted himself during the subsequent power play with several important saves.
Sogaard was not back in front of his net, nor on the bench to start the third period. The change of goalkeeper broke the rhythm of the Laval team, but Dobes nevertheless made a few spectacular saves to maintain his team’s lead.
Guénette, however, closed the gap with 4:14 remaining when his point shot found its way to the back of the net, passing between Dobes’ pads.
With Merilainen benched in favor of a sixth skater, the Senators had a few good chances in the final moments of the game, but Dobes once again closed the door.