ROCHESTER STEAL TWO POINTS IN 3-2 VICTORY OVER THE ROCKET

LAVAL (December 13, 2019) – A shorthanded Rocket squad had a stiff test awaiting them at Place Bell on Friday night with the Rochester Americans in town, the team that led the AHL’s North Division with a 16-4-2-2 record prior to the game. The Rocket put up a commendable fight, outshooting their opponents 37-20, but fell short, losing 3-2, in the first leg of a back-to-back that will wrap up on Saturday afternoon. 

Eric Cornel’s goal at 1:57 of the third period stood as the game winner in Rochester’s triumph over the Rocket. He, and teammate Sean Malone, each contributed a goal and an assist in the win; Casey Nelson had the American’s other marker. Nikita Jevpalovs scored in the third period as the Rocket tried to mount a comeback, but Jonas Johansson’s 17 saves in the final frame were enough to secure the two points. 

Nelson opened the scoring less than a minute into the game, but the Rocket were quick to respond with a powerplay marker just 1:34 later. Charles Hudon’s team-leading 11th goal of the season – and sixth in his last four games – brought the Rocket back on level terms with the Americans. Sean Malone’s tally later in the frame, however, gave Rochester a 2-1 advantage at the break. 

In the third, Cornel profited from a rebound off the pad of Charlie Lindgren – who was making consecutive starts for the first time this season – to give the Americans a two-goal cushion. Twenty-eight seconds later, Jevpalovs rang a laser off the post and in to spark some life into the Rocket, but that was all the offence Laval would get in the loss. 

The Rocket welcomed a pair of new faces to their lineup on Friday night – both of which are on professional try-out contracts. Ralph Cudemmi – who led the ECHL in points before being called up – made his AHL debut and Evan McEneny saw his first game action since March 3, 2019, as a member of the Utica Comets. 

“We got really good hockey players in this team; we had some guys who stepped up tonight. It’s good to see guys getting opportunities and doing well. It could have gone either way and I think we played well,” said Lindgren after the game. 

Marqueurs/Scorers 

LAV: Hudon (Weise) | Jevpalovs (Lynch) 

ROC: Nelson (Oglevie, Porter) | Malone (Cornel) | Cornel (Malone, Bryson) 

Unités spéciales/Special teams 

LAV | AN/PP: (1/5) | IN/PK: (2/2) 

ROC| AN/PP: (0/2) | IN/PK: (4/5) 

Gardiens/Goaltenders 

LAV: Lindgren (17/20) | ROC: Johansson (35/37) 

Trois étoiles/Three stars 

1. Cornel – ROC 2. Jevpalovs – LAV 3. Déa – ROC