ROCKET LAUNCHED! Laval Dominates Rochester, 9-3
- Chris Drummond
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Christopher Drummond
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The skid deepened Friday night at Blue Cross Arena, and this one left a mark.
The Rochester Americans were overwhelmed by the Laval Rocket in a stunning 9–3 defeat, their fifth straight loss overall and fourth in a row to Laval. It was their second setback to the Rocket in the last seven days — and their most lopsided loss of the season.
A Strong Start, but a Familiar Deficit
Rochester opened with energy, outshooting Laval 12–9 in the first period and generating multiple power-play looks. But the only number that mattered was on the scoreboard.
Defenseman Tobie Bisson struck first for Laval, wiring a slapshot over the left shoulder of goaltender Devon Levi to give the Rocket a 1–0 edge. Despite the Amerks’ territorial advantage and a late Rocket roughing penalty, Rochester entered intermission trailing.
It was a theme that would haunt them all night.
Eight Seconds of Chaos — Twice
The second period turned into a track meet.
After failing to convert on a power play, Rochester finally broke through when Graham Slaggert delivered a slick behind-the-back feed to Mason Geertsen, who buried his second of the season to knot the game at 1–1.
The celebration lasted all of eight seconds.
Joshua Roy answered immediately for Laval, restoring the lead in the blink of an eye with his 14th goal of the season. The backbreaker came just as quickly as the equalizer.
Rochester refused to fold. On another power play opportunity, Isak Rosen fired a shot that deflected off Riley Fiddler-Schultz and into the net, tying the contest at 2–2. It was Fiddler-Schultz’s 16th goal of the campaign and a critical response.
But again — eight seconds later — Laval struck.
Vincent Arseneau capitalized to make it 3–2 Rocket. The two quick-response tallies — two goals in 16 seconds combined — rank among the fastest sequences in the league this season and completely flipped momentum each time Rochester clawed back.
Still, the Amerks had life.
Gavin Beyreuther blasted home an unassisted equalizer — his fifth of the year — igniting the crowd and tying the game for a third time at 3–3. It marked the first time all night the Amerks matched Laval’s offensive pace.
It would also be their last.
The Turning Point
Late in the second period, a mini-scuffle resulted in a Rochester roughing penalty — and Laval pounced.
Samuel Blais scored on the ensuing power play and then added another shortly after the advantage expired. Two goals in roughly two-and-a-half minutes turned a tight contest into a 5–3 Rocket lead heading into the second intermission.
From there, Laval never looked back.
Third-Period Collapse
The Rocket poured it on in the final frame, scoring four more times to blow the game wide open. Levi was pulled in favor of Cameron Rowe as the score ballooned, but the damage had already been done.
Fans began streaming toward the exits long before the final horn, frustration evident in the half-empty arena.
Afterward, head coach Michael Leone didn’t mince words.
“When you give a team like that opportunities, they’re going to make you pay,” Leone said. “We did some good things, but there were mistakes that were egregious. Against a team like this, every play matters.”
Leone acknowledged it was an off night for Levi but reiterated his confidence in the young netminder and the group as a whole.
“If you told me at the start of the year — with the adversity we’ve faced — that we’d be in a playoff spot, four games up with five in hand, I’d take it,” Leone said. “We’re going through it right now, but we have to stick together. I believe in this team.”
What’s Next
The Amerks won’t have long to regroup. They head out on a three-game road trip that includes two more matchups with the Rocket. First up: a Sunday afternoon showdown with the Syracuse Crunch, with puck drop set for 4 p.m.
For Rochester, the message is clear. The margin for error has vanished — and the Rocket have exposed just how thin it is.
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