Rocket Looking to Bounce Back After Shootout Loss to Moose
After a tough 2-1 shootout loss Friday night, the Laval Rocket are wasting no time turning the page. With a rematch against the Manitoba Moose on tap less than 24 hours later - and for the final time this season - the Rocket are focused on one thing: getting back in the win column.
A Performance to Build On
Despite the loss, there’s no sense of panic in the Rocket locker room. Head coach Pascal Vincent and his players were quick to point out the positives from Friday's game.
Laval controlled much of the action, outshooting the Moose and generating more high-danger scoring chances. The difference?
A hot goalie on the other side and a lack of traffic in front of the net.
“We had the edge in chances and shots,” Vincent said postgame. “Their goalie played well, but we’ve talked about needing more traffic in front. It’s not rocket science - we just didn’t do it enough.”
The Rocket will be looking to correct that when they hit the ice again. This is the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season, with Manitoba having taken two of the first three. Laval will be eager to even the series on home ice.
Fowler Gets the Nod
Between the pipes, Jacob Fowler will get the start - his first since December 5. The young netminder will be looking to make the most of the opportunity, especially in a game where the Rocket will need a strong performance to bounce back.
Key Numbers from Friday Night
- Luke Tuch found the back of the net for the seventh time this season, already surpassing his goal total from last year. He’s been trending upward and continues to carve out a bigger role in the lineup.
- Adam Engström was a force from the blue line, leading the team with seven shots on goal.
His ability to create offense from the back end has been a steady asset all season.
- Joshua Roy made a strong return to the lineup, firing four shots on goal and bringing energy to every shift. After some time away, he didn’t miss a beat.
Voices from the Room
One of the big talking points after the game was Laval’s strong start - something the coaching staff had emphasized all week.
“Pascal’s been stressing the importance of starting strong,” said Tuch. “I think we did that, but we couldn’t capitalize.”
“We’re pretty happy with the overall team effort,” added another player. “But we’ll go back to the drawing board, make some adjustments, and come out ready to get those two points.”
Head coach Pascal Vincent also addressed the tough decision to scratch veteran forward Xavier Simoneau in favor of giving younger players ice time. It wasn’t an easy call, but it’s one that speaks to the depth and leadership within the team.
“Simmer’s a warrior, the ultimate teammate,” Vincent said. “He wasn’t happy, but he understood.
That’s leadership. He’ll be back in the lineup tomorrow.”
Last Game’s Lineup (January 16, 2026)
Forwards
- Sean Farrell - Laurent Dauphin - Alex Belzile
- Joshua Roy - Owen Beck - Jared Davidson
- Lucas Condotta - Florian Xhekaj - Luke Tuch
- Vincent Arseneau - Filip Mešár - Tyler Thorpe
Defensemen
- Adam Engström - David Reinbacher
- William Trudeau - Josiah Didier
- Marc Del Gaizo - Nate Clurman
Goaltenders
- Kaapo Kähkönen
- Jacob Fowler
Extras: Will Dineen, Joe Dunlap, Josh Jacobs, Ryan O’Rourke, Xavier Simoneau
Injured: Tobie Bisson
With a quick turnaround and a chance to split the season series, expect the Rocket to come out with purpose. They’ve got the tools - now it’s about execution.