Cédric Paquette hit the target shortly after causing a contact that led to the cancellation of a goal for his team and the Laval Rockets beat Syracuse Crunch 4-1, Thursday at Place Bell, in the third game of their North Section semi- final series.
The Rocket were therefore in control of 2-1 in the best-of-five series. The fourth game will be shown on Saturday afternoon at Place Bell. If an ultimate game is needed, it will take place on Tuesday, in Syracuse.
Both teams did not give much space to the opposition during the game. Despite the ups and downs, Rocket’s power play ultimately made the difference, with two-for-seven efficiency.
Crunch was unable to take advantage of two wide attack opportunities.
Danick Martel also scored in power play for the Rocket, while Jean-Sebastien Dea and Louie Belpedio provided insurance goals with an empty net late in the game. Cayden Primeau was stopped by 22 shots.
Remi Elie replied for Crunch. Maxime Lagacé made 23 saves.
No change was made in the two formations. That’s why Rocket played with 11 attackers and 7 defenders in the second straight game.
By trial
Rocket quickly opened up scoring after 2 min 43 s of play, taking advantage of their first power play of the game. Martel moved the ropes with a one-timer after a perfect cross pass from Sami Niku.
Crunch almost played luck after more than eight minutes of play. Fredrik Claesson’s shot deflected Cole Koekpe in front of the net, then to the skate of Rocket defender Tobie Paquette-Bisson. Primeau had to extend the stick against the ice to prevent the puck from crossing the goal line.
Rocket had three more power plays before the end of the first stage, but often found it difficult to settle into opposing territory. Dea was closest to widening the gap, but she reached the pole.
Alex Barré-Boulet was close to equalizing with just over a minute left in the first period. Crunch forward started from the corner of the rink and charged towards the Rocket net. Barré-Boulet was able to slide the puck between Primeau’s pads, but the puck hit the post, then gave up against Primeau’s right skate before being cleared in the way of injury.
Rocket went two-on-one early in the second period, but Paquette ran into Lagacé. Darren Raddysh took the puck and made a long pass to Elie, who escaped. Franco-Ontarian beat Primeau in 4:49 by a powerful slap.
There weren’t too many shots on goal in the first 40 minutes of play. Rocket had a 14-10 advantage in that regard after two rounds.
Barré-Boulet answered Rocket’s best chance in the second period, diving to break the pass from Dea to Teasdale in a two-man attack on the keeper.
Source: Radio-Canada
