The Laval Rocket had their best moments of the season this week, but the Lehigh Valley Phantoms long silenced the Montreal Canadiens’ farm club, which lost 3-2 at Place Bell on Friday night.
Jean-François Houle’s men had won their last three games, scoring more than five goals each time. The attack was more discreet this time, especially because the home team dropped two of their veterans in a duel.
• Also read: The Red Wings return from Sweden empty-handed
• Also read: WATCH: Jake Walman prevents a goal by forcing his way into the net
Mitchell Stephens and Philippe Maillet, both playing in the front row with Xavier Simoneau, suffered injuries and had to abandon the game early in the second period.
Dominated throughout the game, the North Crown representatives showed signs of life at the end of the game. Brandon Gignac scored on the power play, assisted by Sean Farrell and Joshua Roy, then Riley Kidney scored his first professional goal with five seconds left on the scoreboard.
Olle Lycksell hurt the Rocket by hitting the target twice in the third period, including once into an empty net. The Philadelphia Flyers young player has already scored 10 goals in just 14 games this season.
Tanner Laczynski was involved in all three of his team’s victories and was lucky enough to score the first goal at the end of the second period. The attacker threw a shot at a teammate positioned in the slot, but the puck bounced off the skate of Laval defenseman William Trudeau, surprising goaltender Jakub Dobes.
In total, he made 29 saves. Phantoms goaltender Cal Petersen had a somewhat quieter evening, only receiving 26 shots.
The CH affiliate will be on the road as they take on the Utica Comets on Saturday night at the Adirondack Bank Center.