Rocket Edge Marlies in OT Thriller, Pick Up Back-to-Back Wins
The Laval Rocket came into Saturday’s clash with the Toronto Marlies looking to string together a pair of wins-and they got just that, but not without a battle. Less than 24 hours after grinding out a hard-fought win over the Syracuse Crunch, the Rocket delivered again, this time needing overtime to seal the deal in a 3-2 victory.
The lineup looked nearly identical to Friday’s, but there was one unfortunate change: Xavier Simoneau, who had just returned from injury, was out again after taking a hard fall late in the previous game. While he managed to finish that contest, it was clear something wasn’t right.
Tyler Thorpe stepped into his spot on the third line, and Vincent Arseneau slotted into the lineup as well. On the back end, there were no changes, and Jacob Fowler got the nod again in net-his second start in as many nights.
Laval came out with the same energy they showed Friday, and Josh Jacobs wasted no time showing off his booming one-timer once again. He’s clearly feeling confident, and it’s paying off.
But unlike Friday’s more controlled effort, this one had a different rhythm early on. The first 10 minutes were wide open, with both teams skating well and finding space in the neutral zone. It was a true back-and-forth affair.
The tone shifted after Jared Davidson dropped the gloves in response to a hit on Owen Beck. It was a spirited bout, but Davidson took the worst of it and didn’t return.
Laval successfully killed off the unsportsmanlike penalty, and moments later, Adam Engström opened the scoring-his goal looking awfully similar to the overtime winner he notched the night before. This kid is starting to find a rhythm offensively.
After the goal, the pace got a bit sloppy. Laval drew a late power play but struggled to generate much.
Toronto, in fact, had the better chances while short-handed. Another penalty gave Laval a second crack at the man advantage before the period ended, and this time they looked more threatening.
Joshua Roy and Engström both had quality looks, but Marlies goaltender Dennis Hildeby stood tall. Laval carried a 1-0 lead into the intermission.
The second period opened with 40 seconds left on that power play, but Laval couldn’t capitalize. A penalty just a minute later gave Toronto its own chance, but the Rocket penalty kill held strong. Laval got another opportunity shortly after and looked sharp again, but the finishing touch was missing.
Midway through the period, Laval earned a four-minute power play-and this time, they cashed in. After three minutes of Hildeby standing on his head, Arseneau jammed home his second of the season to give Laval a 2-0 lead.
Toronto responded quickly, finally breaking through Fowler to cut the lead in half. The second frame ended with the Rocket up 2-1, and the shot count locked at 19 apiece.
In the third, Laval came out pressing, generating a pair of solid chances, but Hildeby continued to be a difference-maker. After five minutes of offensive zone time without results, the Rocket shifted into a more defensive posture, trying to protect the lead.
A big hit from William Trudeau midway through the period sparked another fight-this time Trudeau held his own and gave the Rocket a bit of a jolt. But Toronto wasn’t going away.
A poor line change left Laval exposed, and Fowler had to come up huge with a pair of breakaway saves on Logan Shaw. The Marlies were pushing hard, and Fowler was the last line of defense more than once.
With just under a minute to go and the Rocket locked in a defensive shell, Toronto found the equalizer, sneaking one through Fowler’s five-hole to tie it at 2-2.
Overtime was fast and frantic, with both teams trading chances. But it was Laurent Dauphin who ended it with a slick move, burying the game-winner and sending the Rocket home with their second win in as many nights.
Final Score: Laval 3, Toronto 2 (OT)
Next up, Laval returns home to face the Utica Comets on Wednesday. With Utica sitting at 12-20-4, this could be a prime opportunity for the Rocket to keep building momentum. After a rocky stretch, back-to-back wins-especially one in dramatic fashion-might just be the spark this team needs.