A Winning Habit
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Down on the Farm: Alex Belzile is a shining light in the dark

By Mark Darling

LAVAL, QC, CANADA - NOVEMBER 3: Alex Belzile #22 of the Laval Rocket executing a slapshot during warm-up against the Utica Comets at Place Bell on November 3, 2018 in Laval, Quebec. (Photo by Stephane Dube /Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC, CANADA - NOVEMBER 3: Alex Belzile #22 of the Laval Rocket executing a slapshot during warm-up against the Utica Comets at Place Bell on November 3, 2018 in Laval, Quebec. (Photo by Stephane Dube /Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
LAVAL, QC, CANADA – NOVEMBER 16: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Stephane Dube /Getty Images) /

This week, the Montreal Canadiens farm team is stuck in the basement of a momentum swing but the Laval Rocket have had good individual performances from it.

The Team Picture:

I’ve used the roller coaster analogy to describe the Laval Rocket‘s up-and-down season so much; lately I think I’ve given myself motion sickness. And yet, despite the continued, desperate pleas of the many Rocket boosters to get off the ride, it appears we’re all going round again. So buckle up, folks.

Considering the tumultuous trip endured so far, many Laval Rocket fans probably entered last week with a sinking feeling in the pit of their stomachs. Kind of like that sensation you get just before the roller coaster plunges downward at breakneck speed and the screaming commences.

Having posted a middling-to-poor 1-1-1 record the week prior, and facing a tough triple-header road trip, it appeared Laval was in for a rough ride ahead. So the results came as a little surprise with the Rocket losing all three dates in regulation to drop their record to 7-11-2 on the year.
Laval was in every game until the final buzzer and battled hard, but in the end there was nothing to show for their efforts. Whether it was goaltending lapses, untimely and undisciplined penalties or whatever the case may be, the end result was the same: a pointless week of play and a 28th place rank in the overall league standings.

After that bumpy road trip, the Rocket thankfully return to Laval this week for a three-game homestand and a chance to hopefully regain some much-needed ground in the AHL North Division.

The Rocket take on the Belleville Sens on Wednesday before hosting Lehigh High Valley on Friday and Utica on Saturday. Both Belleville and Utica are just ahead of Laval in the North standings, adding an even greater sense of urgency to the outcomes. Anything short of two wins this week will be a big disappointment.

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