It doesn’t look good for the Laval Rocket, weeks away from the American Hockey League playoffs.
• Read also: Four losses in five games: the Laval Rocket out of the playoffs
• Read also: The Canadian agrees with Jayden Struble, who will play in Laval very soon
Jean-François Houle’s troops lost their flag 3 to 2 against the Utica Comets on Friday at Place Bell, suffering a third consecutive loss.
In the North Division, the Rocket ranks sixth with 58 points. The Cleveland Monsters, last, have three games in hand on the Lavallois and only a point behind.
Seven small points separate the third rank from the seventh in this very tough section, but the Rocket will certainly have to work hard to qualify narrowly for the spring ball.
In the match of the day, the hosts knocked on Isaac Poulter’s door several times in the very last moments of the game to tie the game, but ran out of time. The Comets goalkeeper made 33 saves.
Reunited for the first time with his French compatriot Louis Boudon, Pierrick Dubé had reduced the gap to one goal at the start of the third period. Mitchell Stephens also hit the mark in the loss.
Alexander Holtz, Brian Halonen and Aarne Talvitie propelled the New Jersey Devils farm club to victory.
A little new
Elsewhere, new member of the Habs organization Jayden Struble met the media for the first time earlier in the day.
He said he’s excited to join the Rocket and is well aware of the challenge the Laval club’s great depth on the blue line will pose.
“There are several good players here,” he said. I know I will have to step up my game to stay with the team. I have to acclimatize to the system first.”