Sports stats



AHL Laval Rocket

Rochester Steals Two Points in 3-2 Victory over the Rocket

December 13, 2019 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Laval Rocket News Release


LAVAL - 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

Check out the Laval Rocket Statistics

• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...

American Hockey League Stories from December 13, 2019


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central