26-05-2025
Laval Rocket eliminate American, move on to Eastern Association final
Laval Rockets' Laurent Dauphin (27) celebrates his goal against the Cleveland Monsters with Sean Farrell (15), Alex Barre-Boulet (12), and William Trudeau (84) during third period AHL playoff hockey action, in Laval, Que., on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (Christopher Katsarov/The Canadian Press)
Sean Farrell and Joshua Roy each collected a goal and two assists, guiding the Laval Rocket to a 5-0 victory over the Rochester Americans in the final game of the Northern Section finals on Sunday night at Place Bell.
On Oliver Kapanen's wings, Farrell and Roy were very threatening with the puck and proved head coach Pascal Vincent right in making changes to the lineup.
The arrival of Brandon Gignac on the Laurent Dauphin and Alex Barré-Boulet trio also energized the three players, who had been quieter during Friday's 5-1 defeat.
The result: the Rocket won the series 3-2 and joined the Charlotte Checkers in the Eastern Association final. The first game will take place on Wednesday night in Laval.
Lucas Condotta, Barré-Boulet and Kapanen also found the back of the net for the Montreal Canadiens' training club, which is in the AHL's final four for the first time since 2022.
After surrendering his net to Jacob Fowler in the fourth game of the series, Cayden Primeau showed why he is such a dependable goaltender under pressure. He recorded a 27-save shutout.
Xavier Simoneau, who was injured in the first game of the series, returned to action and made a big impact despite his small stature. He earned an assist and was very vocal towards the Americans' players.
Goalkeeper Devon Levi had an easier time of it in the last game, but he faced a lot more congestion in front of him on Sunday. He conceded five times on 33 shots.
Virtually perfect game
This was a final game, and you could feel it in the intensity of the opening minutes. Both teams orchestrated some fine attacking moves, but the goalkeepers stood firm.
The Rocket got the first chance on the power play, but the execution was not there. On the second, however, they managed to open the scoring.
After Josh Dunne had smashed his stick on the face-off, Roy fired a shot straight at the post to Levi's right. Farrell picked up the disc and passed it to Barré-Boulet, who hit the target with a powerful finish.
Lavallois took advantage of the momentum to continue their attacks and doubled their lead less than four minutes later. Zack Hayes picked up the puck at the opposition's blue line and simply directed it into the net. Farrell made a fine deflection that just foiled Levi under the arm.
Barely out of the dressing room to start the second period, Pascal Vincent's team dealt their opponents a heavy blow in the 24th second. The build-up play wasn't exemplary, but Simoneau managed to connect with Condotta in the enclave, and the captain caught Levi between the pipes.
The crowd celebrated again a few minutes later when Gignac beat Levi. However, the referees disallowed the goal because they judged that Dauphin had made contact with the Americans' goalkeeper.
The visitors then had a chance to seize the momentum, but Primeau made a fine save from Konsta Helenius on a breakaway.
The Rocket found the best way to keep it, ending the engagement with another powerplay goal. Roy accepted Farrell's cross-ice pass and took advantage of Dauphin's screen to thread the ball home.
Shaken, the Americans were unable to find a way past Primeau in the final third. Kapanen even put the final nail in the coffin midway through the period, after a second Roy effort.
Laval closed the books with ease and confirmed Primeau's shutout.
This report by the Canadian Press was first published in French on May 25, 2025.
