Laval Rocket lock horns with the Utica Comets

On Wednesday night, the Montreal Canadiens American Hockey League affiliate team, the Laval Rocket battled the New Jersey Devils farm team.

Before the game was three minutes old, one of the hottest sticks on the Rocket, Jared Davidson potted his 19th goal of the season. What's most impressive is that Davidson was drafted as a 19-year-old. The late bloomer was just hitting his stride, based on his statistics leading up to, and after turning pro.

Florian Xhekaj registered an assist on the goal, his ninth of the season, and 14 points in his last 10 games and a period. Farrell now has 12 goals and 14 assists in 48 games, and a period. Laurent Dauphin also factored on the goal, with his 18th assist of the season.

Davidson was the Canadiens fifth round, 130th overall selection in the 2022 draft, coming off a 42-47-89 in 64 WHL games with the Seattle Thunderbirds. in his draft-plus-one year (2023-24), Davidson wore an 'A' on his sweater, as part of the Thunderbirds leadership group, posting 38-44-82 in 60 games.

From 2021-22 to 2022-23, Davidson also scored 52 playoff points (24 goals, and 28 assists), helping the Thunderbirds to a WHL championship in 2022-23. If Joel Armia gets moved, I would expect the next call-up to be him.

Xhekaj decided to shed his gloves, and throw some haymakers with Will MacKinnon to get the crowd into it. With a point and an assist this early, a Gordie Howe hat trick feels likely. Though the goal is the toughest of the trio to achieve,

With just over three minutes remaining in the opening period, Reinbacher activated from the blueline, utilizing some steely nerves, and great anticipation. Laurent Dauphin fired a Sean Farrell pass from the top of the slot, and Reinbacher got his stick on the puck to deflect his first goal of the season past Utica goaltender Isaac Poulter.

Farrell's assist on the goal is his 14th of the season. He has 14 points in his last 10 games and a period. Farrell now has 12 goals and 14 assists in 48 games, and a period.

Laval head coach Pascal Vincent praised Reinbacher's hockey sense earlier in the week, and it was on full display with his tally. Many had him pegged as this defensive defensemen, limited offensively, however, the 2023 fifth overall selection has promise on the other side of the puck. Reinbacher's off-puck game, and confidence on the rush with the puck is impressive.

I noticed it in this game, and in just about every game, he is not afraid to join the rush, often venturing in from the opposing blueline to the slot area. Reinbacher's confidence in his skating, and offensive zone intelligence give me plenty of hope. I think this guy will challenge for a role with the Canadiens next season, and the fact that he is only 20 years old is pretty exciting for the organization.

A little over a minute later, Dauphin put the Rocket third goal of the period behind Coulter, his 18th of the season. Alex Barre-Boulet continued his strong season, registering the primary assist, his 32nd of the season, and 46th point. Logan Mailloux drew the secondary assist, his 17th of the season, and 28th point.

Utica scored a goal late to break Primeau's shutout bid.

The second frame

This period was quiet on the scoreboard, but if not for Cayden Primeau's strong performance between the pipes, Laval might be in a different situation. For much of this period, I get a sense that they took their foot off the pedal, getting a little comfortable because of their two-goal lead. A poor decision, that almost always comes back to bite you.

Utica has dominated the shot battle, with 13 to Laval's six with three minutes left to play in the second period. However, aside from a Zack Hayes penalty, the second period was very quiet.

Onto the third, with the Rocket nursing a 3-1 lead, that they've held since the last 13 seconds of the opening period.

The third had some action earlier than the second period, Lucas Condotta and Chase Stillman each took minor penalties before the period was four minutes old.

About a toonie later, the Rocket scored their fourth goal of the night, off the stick of Mailloux, for his 12th of the season. I have to admit I love the freedom that Reinbacher and Mailloux are given from Vincent to activate as a fourth forward-hybrid. Mailloux tipped home a point shot from Adam Engstrom for the 'sleeper hold' goal.

Dauphin recorded his third point of the game on the tally, and Engstrom chipped in for his 20th assist of the season.

With 6:32 to go in the period, Joshua Roy took a hooking penalty. Utica opted to pull their goalie for six attackers for a six on four man advantage. The Rocket penalty killers did a great job keeping the play to the outside, cutting off passing lanes, and blocking shot openings.

Roy returned to the ice, and for the ensuing six seconds, Utica's net remained vacant. But nothing formulated.

The Comets opted to keep their net deserted with well over four minutes left to play. Laval attempted the open net, but missed. Farrell won the race to beat out the icing, then drew a penalty for high sticking, during his attempt to ice the game for good.

3:48 remains, and the Rocket will play two minutes of it on the power play. And before Laval could start their power play, Utica's head coach took an unsportsmanlike penalty, putting the Comets down five on three. I have an idea, pull Primeau and go six on three.

Anyway, Laval failed to do anything other than bleed the clock to just under two minutes. But just as the penalty ended, Joshua Roy fired home a rebound from Reinbacher's shot from the blueline. Roy's 18th of the year puts Laval up 5-1 - Reinbacher recorded his second assist of the game, and Dauphin his fourth point.

Place Bell sounded like the Bell Centre with Olé Olé Olé chants filling the air. Laval looks good, and confident. The young guys are creating beautiful music like a symphony, and Vincent is conducting a push for a playoff berth.