Latest news with #FlorianXhekaj
Ottawa Citizen
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
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. Article content 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. Article content 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. Article content One of those lessons undoubtedly revolves around discipline — or the lack thereof. Article content Article content 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. Article content Xhekaj also was penalized for roughing in the first period, again for getting too close to Levi, the Dollard-des-Ormeaux native. Article content 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. Article content 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. Article content Article content It's a bizarre scenario to say the least, but that's life in the AHL. Article content 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. Article content 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. Article content 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.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Third period collapse sends Amerks to game 3 defeat
The Amerks spent over 42 minutes trying to get even with Laval in game 3. The Rocket barely needed two to put Rochester behind again. And once they got the Amerks down, Laval buried them. A three goal third period powered Laval to a 4-1 win over Rochester in game 3 of the North Division Final and a 2-1 series lead. The Amerks will be playing to keep their season alive on Friday. Lukas Rousek's wrister 2:46 into the third period knotted the game at 1 after the Rocket scored in the game's opening 15 seconds. Two minutes and change later, Florian Xhekaj sent a backhand over Devon Levi's shoulder to restore the Laval lead. Amerks head coach Michael Leone thought that goal was one Levi would like to have back. The go-ahead goal particularly stung because the Amerks had been rewarded for confidence in themselves just a couple minutes earlier. 'The vibe in the locker room was just kinda 'stay in it'. We were gonna find a way to get one eventually. We're too good of a hockey team not,' Jack Rathbone said. He had an assist on the Rousek goal. 'When we did, just tough to give up one. Little deflating to give up one that quickly.' The Rocket doubled their lead 65 seconds later when William Trudean fed Laurent Dauphin for a tap-in at the back post. Joshua Roy jumped on a rebound just after the halfway point of the third to close out the scoring. Levi faced only five shots in the third period and stopped just two. Rochester outshot Laval 32-20 for the game. It was the first time all year Levi allowed three goals or more in three consecutive games. 'Third period to me, it feels weird. Felt like we were in the (offensive) zone quite a bit and generated a lot of opportunities,' Mason Jobst said. 'I just feel like they were very opportunistic. Any little mistake we made, they capitalized.' Rochester now must win two consecutive games in Quebec to advance against a Laval team that lost 12 times at home all season. Jobst said the focus is not winning two games. It's just about winning one on Friday in game 4. 'To me, it wasn't a 4-1 hockey game. They made a nice play on the (go-ahead) goal and got a little momentum in that five minute segment,' Leone said. 'I really liked a lot of the things we did. Now our back is up against the wall. We're going to need the same effort (Friday), but I thought we did lot of good things.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Laval Rocket beat Americans 4-1 after third period wake-up
With Florian Xhekaj kickstarting a three-goal surge in the third period, the Laval Rocket came out on top to defeat the Rochester Americans 4-1 at Place Bell on Wednesday night. After being carried by goalie Cayden Primeau throughout the second period, the Montreal Canadiens' club-school got the spark it needed when Xhekaj broke the deadlock in the fifth minute of the third period. The Rocket took a 2-1 lead in this Northern Section final and could finish it off on Friday night, again at home. The winner of this series will join the Charlotte Checkers, who just swept aside the Hershey Bears, the two-time defending Calder Cup champions. Xhekaj may have scored the winning goal, but the real hero of the game was undoubtedly Primeau, who turned aside 32 of the 33 pucks thrown his way. Luke Tuch, Laurent Dauphin and Joshua Roy hit the target for Laval, who each got a puck in. However, they lost the services of defenceman Tyler Wotherspoon, who did not return to start the second period. Lukas Rousek scored the only goal for the Americans, who perhaps deserved a better fate before their opponents' three-goal thrust. Devon Levi made 16 saves in a losing cause. Attack unlocks The poor fans stuck in the Place Bell car park missed the best start the Rocket could have had. On the break, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, Lucas Condotta and Tuch caused the Americans problems. David Reinbacher collected the puck and his shot was deflected by Tuch, who opened the scoring after just 15 seconds of play. The Laval defence was able to protect Primeau by blocking several shots, but could do nothing about Zachary Metsa's point shot. Luckily for them, the puck hit the post to the left of the goalkeeper without damage. Pascal Vincent's men were also buzzing in enemy territory, and they fired a lot of shots in Levi's direction. This time, it was the visitors' defence that held firm, and they went into the break trailing by just one goal. The Americans played with intensity and energy for the first few minutes of the second period, and Primeau had to show his worth by stopping Tyson Kozak and Anton Wahlberg in quick succession. The Rocket rallied and came within inches of doubling their lead, twice. First Roy tried to catch Levi off guard, but he was able to close the gap in time. Then Gustav Lindstrom spun around, but the Quebec goalkeeper spread himself wide to protect his net. The rest of the period was all about Primeau, who saved his team-mates on several occasions after turnovers. Josh Dunne and Konsta Helenius also got a taste of the American's medicine on short-range shots. Primeau could not do everything, however. After a defensive miscommunication, Rousek accepted Jack Rathbone's pass to level the score at 2:46 of the final period. But the goal whipped the Rocket into life, and they responded with two more in just 65 seconds. Following a fine individual play, Xhekaj backhanded the disc over Levi's shoulder to put the Rocket back in front. Then Dauphin completed William Trudeau's set-up to send Place Bell into hysterics. After that, the nerves left the Laval team and they regained some momentum to increase their lead, thanks to Roy in front of goal. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French May 21, 2025.
