Laval Rocket flames out in third period as Rochester evens series
There's no doubt Florian Xhekaj plays a valuable role on the Laval Rocket.
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The rookie centre was a pleasant surprise this season, scoring 24 goals and 35 points in 69 games. And at 6-foot-4 and 204 pounds, Xhekaj brings a much-needed physical presence to the team. Indeed, he accumulated a team-leading 175 penalty minutes — an almost absurd total.
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But at 20 years old, there remains many lessons for Xhekaj to learn in what he hopes will be an ascendancy to the NHL Canadiens, where he would potentially join older brother Arber Xhekaj, a Montreal defenceman.
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One of those lessons undoubtedly revolves around discipline — or the lack thereof.
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Whether it was justified or not, Xhekaj took a third-period goalie interference minor against Rochester's Devon Levi on Friday night. And while he was penalized, Jiri Kulich scored the winning goal, with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation time, as the Americans defeated the Rocket 5-3 at Blue Cross Arena before 9,126 spectators.
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Xhekaj also was penalized for roughing in the first period, again for getting too close to Levi, the Dollard-des-Ormeaux native.
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Rochester's victory evened the best-of-five North Division final 1-1. And while Laval accomplished its mission by earning a split in the opening two games on the road, it will be interesting to see what direction the series takes when it reverts to Place Bell next week.
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While the Rocket retains home-ice advantage, there now is a five-day break before Wednesday night's third game. Any momentum the Americans might have gained with this win could prove moot during that respite. The fourth game will be played Friday night and, if a fifth match is necessary, that goes on May 25.
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It's a bizarre scenario to say the least, but that's life in the AHL.
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Isak Rosén paced Rochester with two goals — the last coming into an empty net — along with an assist. Kale Clague and Lukas Rousek also scored.
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Clague, a former Canadiens defenceman, has now scored five goals in five playoff games while adding four assists. Kulich, selected 28th overall in 2022, and Rosen, picked 14th overall in 2021, are among five former Buffalo Sabres first-round draft choices on the Americans' roster.
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Laurent Dauphin, captain Lucas Condotta and Jared Davidson scored for Laval, which squandered a 3-2 second-period lead. But Rousek's goal, coming in the final minute of the middle frame, altered the game's momentum. The Americans scored the game's final three goals.
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