The Laval Rocket dug themselves into a deep hole Friday night, then climbed all the way out of it and walked away with a 5-4 overtime win over the Belleville Senators.
It looked bleak early. Laval fell behind 4-0 just 25 minutes into the game, and Belleville’s Kasper Halttunen was having the kind of night that can bury a team all by himself. He finished his hat trick with the Senators’ fourth goal at 5:15 of the second period, and for a while, that was the story.
Daniel Jacob didn’t blink. Even with the Rocket trailing badly, he stayed with Kaapo Kahkonen in net, and Laval eventually found its footing. The turnaround started before the third period and became a full-scale rally once the Rocket pushed back with goals from Brett Berard, Hunter McKown, and Filip Mesar.
That set the stage for overtime, where Luke Mittelstadt finished the job at 4:45 of the extra frame.
Mittelstadt was everywhere in this one. The 23-year-old defenseman picked up second-star honors after scoring once and adding two assists, giving him 10 points through just five games. That total leads all players in the AHL, and his seven assists place him fourth in that category.
For Laval, the comeback fit neatly into the strong start the club has made under Jacob. After five games, the Canadiens’ farm team is sitting first in the North Division, first in the Eastern Conference, and third overall in the league, even with some of its best players now up with the big club.
Mittelstadt has been one of the reasons why. He drew attention at Canadiens training camp, and even with the left side of the blue line crowded, he looks like someone who could get NHL games. At 5-foot-11 and 187 pounds, he won’t overpower anyone, but his skating, transition play, and puck control keep showing up.
Laval’s next test comes Saturday night against the Utica Comets in New York. Utica has only played three games so far, but it has won all three, which makes for a tough next assignment for the Rocket.
In Other News...
Dylan Larkin Just Gave Canadiens Fans A Reason To Revisit This Dream
Dylan Larkins name still has a way of lighting up the Bell Centre, and a recent visit by the Red Wings captain only fed that old Canadiens daydream a little more. Montreal fans gave him a notable reception, the kind that reminds everyone how easily a big-name center can become part of the citys ongoing wish list, especially when the organization is always looking for ways to upgrade down the middle.
Larkin didnt exactly pour cold water on the whole scene, either, praising the atmosphere in Montreal and calling it one of hockeys best arenas. Even so, the practical side of the story has not changed much, with Montreal not currently listed among the 10 teams on his reported trade request list and no deal anywhere near confirmed. For now, it is still more reminder than resolution, but it was enough to make Canadiens fans revisit a dream they know well. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Win Exposed A Sabres Problem Fans Have Seen Before
The Sabres have made a habit of flirting with disaster, and the latest example came in a 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal after Buffalo clawed its way back into the game. There are signs of progress in spots, with Jack Quinn, Josh Doan and Josh Norris all showing better form, but the bigger picture still looks familiar: too much inconsistency, too little clean defensive hockey, and not enough margin for error when the game tightens.
What has made the trend harder to ignore is how often Buffalo has had to lean on late rallies just to collect points. That approach can keep a team afloat for a night, but it is not a recipe for staying competitive over the long haul, especially when the margins are so thin in the standings. The Canadiens exposed that reality again, leaving the Sabres with another reminder that the comeback formula only works so many times before it catches up. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Came Shockingly Close To A Franchise What-If With Brett Hull
Brett Hull recently reopened one of the more fascinating what-ifs in Canadiens history, saying he was very close to signing with Montreal in 2001 before ending up in Detroit instead. The timing alone makes it intriguing for Canadiens fans, since Hull was still a proven scorer with a chance to alter the direction of the franchise, even if landing him would not have guaranteed instant contention.
On a podcast, Hull recounted the kind of recruiting pitch that makes these stories linger, including a conversation with Canadiens icon Jean Bliveau as Montreal tried to make its case. What tipped the balance away from the Canadiens was a late push from Detroit, and Hull wound up with the Red Wings, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2002 instead of becoming part of a very different Montreal chapter. [Read more 🡒]