AHL Laval Rocket

Sparks' 31 Save Shutout Frustrate S Rocket 4-0

Published on March 15, 2018 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Laval Rocket News Release


TORONTO - In a rematch of Monday's game between the Laval Rocket and the Toronto Marlies, the Marlies came out on top 4-0 at the Ricoh Coliseum in a game that was tight until the final frame.

The Marlies found the back of the net just 16 seconds into the game, but you wouldn't be able to tell by watching the Rocket play.

The early goal from Colin Greening seemingly had no effect on the visiting team, who came out strong and nearly tied the game with their own offensive rush moments later. Even goaltender Michael McNiven seemed unfazed by the goal, as he made a great save to deny Greening his second of the night before five minutes had trickled off the clock. After killing off two consecutive power plays against the best team in the league, Laval ended the first period down a goal but up 8-7 in shots.

The Rocket found themselves in some more penalty trouble at the start of the second, but Sylvain Lefebvre's penalty killers kept the persistent Marlies from adding to their lead. With the momentum that comes with four consecutive penalty kills, Niki Petti found himself all alone in front of Toronto netminder Garret Sparks who stuck out the pad to retain his team's lead.

Laval pushed hard for the equalizing goal in the second half of the period and came close a couple of times on the power play, but the 1-0 lead held through the end of the second.

Vincent LoVerde got the game's second goal early in the third by slapping a puck between a screened McNiven's legs, and both he and teammate Richard Clune each added another goal to bring the Toronto lead to four. The Rocket never stopped trying to break the shutout of the first star of the game and fired 31 pucks at Sparks overall, but were ultimately unable to find the back of the net.

Goalscorers:

LAV: None

TOR: Greening (52, 33), LoVerde (14, 20), Clune (4, 19), LoVerde (20, 27)

Goaltenders:

LAV: McNiven - L (22/26) | TOR: Sparks- W (31/31)

Rocket Power Play: 0/2 | Rocket Penalty Kill: 4/5

Three Stars:

1. Garret Sparks - TOR / 2. Vincent LoVerde - TOR / 3. Mason Marchment - TOR

Check out the Laval Rocket Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from March 15, 2018


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