Latest news with #Mailloux
Ottawa Citizen
5 days ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Rocket fall to 0-2 after another lopsided loss to Checkers
Article content It wasn't by accident that the Laval Rocket finished first overall in the American Hockey League this season. This is a relatively young team that faced numerous obstacles over a 72-game schedule. Article content Article content But the hole the Rocket has now dug itself might be too difficult to climb out of. Article content For the second consecutive night and game Laval was overmatched, outclassed and dominated by Charlotte. The Checkers breezed to a 5-2 victory Thursday at Place Bell before 9,943 spectators, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final. Article content Article content The sky indeed appears to be falling on Chicken Little, although Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent has no alternative but to remain optimistic. Article content Article content 'We're going to face it just the way we did the whole year — a day at a time,' Vincent said. 'We can't go in the playoffs thinking we have to win four games. We've got to win one. We've got win a period, then the next one and then the next one. That's how we're going to face it. That's what we've done the whole year. Article content 'This is a great opportunity for us, to show what we're made of, to see how we're going to react, how we're going to play in their building. Going there 0-2, it's not great. It's not what we wanted, but there's an opportunity there and we'll see how we're going to manage that.' Article content The series now shifts to Charlotte for the next three games — provided the Rocket can make it that far — starting Sunday afternoon (4 p.m., RDS2, BPM Sports 91.9). The odds certainly don't appear in Laval's favour, the team faced with winning four of the next five and at least two at Bojangles Coliseum if it hopes to play another home game this season. Article content Article content Through two games, Laval has been outscored 10-3. Its power play has gone 1-for-12 while allowing two short-handed goals. Goaltender Cayden Primeau has struggled in both games and was replaced by Jacob Fowler 15 minutes into the second period after allowing four goals on 18 shots. That included two in a span of 44 seconds. Article content The Rocket's defence, missing the injured Tyler Wotherspoon and William Trudeau, is in disarray. Article content Logan Mailloux, a former first-round draft choice, attempted to beat two Charlotte players in the second period while Laval was on the power play. That resulted in a John Leonard breakaway and his second short-handed goal of the series. Article content Mailloux, a minus-2 on this night, appeared to be benched in the third period, although Vincent claimed he was injured. Mailloux jumped on the ice with 4:13 remaining, during a television timeout, and was subsequently sent to the dressing room. Vincent said Mailloux was ejected by the officials, having been assessed a misconduct, although no such record appeared on the scoresheet.
Montreal Gazette
5 days ago
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Rocket fall to 0-2 after another lopsided loss to Checkers
Laval Rocket By It wasn't by accident that the Laval Rocket finished first overall in the American Hockey League this season. This is a relatively young team that faced numerous obstacles over a 72-game schedule. But the hole the Rocket has now dug itself might be too difficult to climb out of. For the second consecutive night and game Laval was overmatched, outclassed and dominated by Charlotte. The Checkers breezed to a 5-2 victory Thursday at Place Bell before 9,943 spectators, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference final. The sky indeed appears to be falling on Chicken Little, although Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent has no alternative but to remain optimistic. 'We're going to face it just the way we did the whole year — a day at a time,' Vincent said. 'We can't go in the playoffs thinking we have to win four games. We've got to win one. We've got win a period, then the next one and then the next one. That's how we're going to face it. That's what we've done the whole year. 'This is a great opportunity for us, to show what we're made of, to see how we're going to react, how we're going to play in their building. Going there 0-2, it's not great. It's not what we wanted, but there's an opportunity there and we'll see how we're going to manage that.' The series now shifts to Charlotte for the next three games — provided the Rocket can make it that far — starting Sunday afternoon (4 p.m., RDS2, BPM Sports 91.9). The odds certainly don't appear in Laval's favour, the team faced with winning four of the next five and at least two at Bojangles Coliseum if it hopes to play another home game this season. Through two games, Laval has been outscored 10-3. Its power play has gone 1-for-12 while allowing two short-handed goals. Goaltender Cayden Primeau has struggled in both games and was replaced by Jacob Fowler 15 minutes into the second period after allowing four goals on 18 shots. That included two in a span of 44 seconds. The Rocket's defence, missing the injured Tyler Wotherspoon and William Trudeau, is in disarray. Logan Mailloux, a former first-round draft choice, attempted to beat two Charlotte players in the second period while Laval was on the power play. That resulted in a John Leonard breakaway and his second short-handed goal of the series. Mailloux, a minus-2 on this night, appeared to be benched in the third period, although Vincent claimed he was injured. Mailloux jumped on the ice with 4:13 remaining, during a television timeout, and was subsequently sent to the dressing room. Vincent said Mailloux was ejected by the officials, having been assessed a misconduct, although no such record appeared on the scoresheet. During the pregame warm-up, players from both teams mingled at centre ice, with Mailloux and MacKenzie Entwistle, 6-foot-3 and 193 pounds, the apparent ringleaders. Laval, the league's most-penalized team this season, took 68 of the 116 penalty minutes assessed. Eight misconducts were meted out — five to the Rocket, including two alone to Florian Xhekaj. Referees Morgan MacPhee and Graedy Hamilton arguably lost control of the game — something that has occurred more than once when MacPhee's involved. Numerous apparent calls went unpenalized, including Marek Alscher's vicious check on Laurent Dauphin in front of the bench. Vincent and his players, predictably, were loath to comment on the officiating. 'It's pretty frustrating what we're doing to ourselves,' captain Lucas Condotta said. 'We're not playing our best and have to regroup here and get back on track. We just didn't have it tonight. They're a good team but we're just not playing our game. The games have been emotional. We have to do a better job of keeping our emotions in check. 'It hasn't been our best. We've given them our worst two games probably of the playoffs. It's a seven-game series. It's not a best-of-five. We've got some time to regroup here. We've got to be ready to go.' Defenceman Trevor Carrick paced Charlotte with a goal and two assists. Michael Benning, Will Lockwood and Riley Bezeau also scored. The Checkers are now on a six-game winning streak. Both of Laval's goals came from defencemen — David Reinbacher and Noel Hoefenmayer. Reinbacher, another former Canadiens first-round draft choice, committed a turnover on Charlotte's fifth goal. Oliver Kapanen is the only Rocket forward with a goal in the series. 'It's on us,' Hoefenmayer said. 'At the end of the day we control our destiny when it comes to that. We have to be more disciplined and stay out of the box. In the playoffs ... it's one game at a time. They came into our building and got two games but now we have the chance to go into theirs and do the same. 'We all believe. We know how good of a team we are.'
Montreal Gazette
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Laval Rocket draws first blood in North Division final at Rochester
Laval Rocket By Back and forth they went, like a great heavyweight title boxing match. What else would you expect from the two best teams in the AHL's North Division? And when all was said and done, it was the Laval Rocket's Oliver Kapanen who landed the knockout blow. Kapanen, who joined the Rocket after the Canadiens were eliminated in the opening-round of the NHL playoffs by the Washington Capitals, scored the winning goal at 15:22 of the third period, as Laval edged the Rochester Americans 5-4 Wednesday night in the opening game of the teams' best-of-five division final before 6,162 spectators at Blue Cross Arena. The second game of the series will be played Friday night at Rochester before the teams return to Laval's Place Bell Wednesday. And just like the Rocket did in its opening round against Cleveland, which also started on the road with two games, it has already seized control. The Rocket defeated Monsters in four games. Kapanen deflected Logan Mailloux's shot from the point past Rochester goaltender Devon Levi, and used his 6-foot-2, 194-pound body effectively, standing directly in front of the net. The goal came barely more than four minutes after Isak Rosen tied the game, and with the teams seemingly headed to overtime. Rosen, selected 14th overall by Buffalo in 2021, is one of five former first-round Sabres draft choices playing for Rochester. He was the Americans' leading scorer this season, with 28 goals and 55 points in 61 games. While Kapanen, only 21, spent the majority of his season in Sweden playing for Timra IK, he dressed for 18 games with Montreal, producing a pair of assists, and played in three of the Canadiens' playoff games. Selected in the second round (64th overall) in 2021, he scored 15 goals and 35 points this season for Timra. Defencemen Mailloux and David Reinbacher, both former first-round Canadiens' draft choices, scored the Rocket's opening two goals. Brandon Gignac and Alex Barré-Boulet also scored as the visitors directed 34 shots at Levi. Owen Beck and Sean Farrell played strong games, both contributing two assists. Levi, a Dollard-des-Ormeaux native, became the third goalie in Rochester franchise history — and the first since Mika Noronen in 2000 — to post consecutive playoff shutouts as the Americans swept Syracuse in three games. Indeed, Levi had a shutout streak of 166:35 before Mailloux scored at 10:04 of the first period, having stopped 82 consecutive shots. The Rocket displayed resilience, as it has all season in forging the AHL's best record (48-19-5). It overcame two one-goal deficits and showed character following Rosen's tying goal, when it would have been easy to suffer an emotional letdown on the road. 'We might have got away from our game a little bit and had some lapses throughout the game,' Mailloux told the media in Rochester. Laval was playing following an eight-day layoff, but it was worse for the Americans, idle since May 1. Kale Clague, Konsta Helenius and Josh Dunne scored Rochester's other goals. Defenceman Clague, who has scored in each of his team's four games, played 25 games for the Canadiens during the 2021-22 season after being claimed off waivers from Los Angeles. After keeping his choice of netminders secret all week, Laval head coach Pascal Vincent decided to start with Cayden Primeau. But Vincent said both goalies will play, likely meaning Jacob Fowler will start on Friday. Primeau, who lost Game 3 against Cleveland, only faced 27 shots and didn't look good on Rosen's goal — a low shot between the legs. But Primeau also made some critical saves. His best might have come in the ninth minute of the second period, when he robbed Helenius with a glove save. 'I mean, they don't ask how,' Primeau told the media in Rochester. 'We're happy to get the first win. We're never out of it. We're a mature group and there's a lot of resilience in the locker room. 'It's definitely not a time to be selfish. I'm not worried about (the rotation) too much. Just be ready when your name's called.' Gignac, who missed most of the season with a knee injury, scored his first goal since Nov. 22. It was one of two power-play goals scored by Laval. 'It has been a really long time,' Gignac told the media in Rochester. 'I don't remember what the feeling of scoring a goal was like.' Gignac, Kapanen and Joshua Roy formed an effective line. While Roy still is seeking his first post-season goal, he contributed an assist. But he also took an unnecessary cross-checking minor in the first period — Klague scored while he was off — and should have been penalized in the third period when he took Rochester captain Mason Jobst into the boards from behind. Nonetheless, Vincent said he was impressed by Roy's physical play.
Ottawa Citizen
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Laval Rocket punches its ticket to next round of AHL playoffs
With the retirement of David Savard, the Canadiens will have at least one opening on defence next season. And Logan Mailloux is playing like a guy determined to take his best run at the opening. Article content Article content Say what you will about Mailloux's alleged defensive shortcomings. The former first-round (31st overall) Canadiens draft choice in 2021 is wonderfully gifted offensively and would be an excellent complement to rookie Lane Hutson, a finalist for this season's Calder Trophy. Article content Article content Mailloux scored a power play goal and added an assist while producing four shots on net, as the Laval Rocket eliminated the Cleveland Monsters with a 4-1 victory Tuesday night at Place Bell. The Rocket, which finished first overall in the AHL and had an opening-round bye, captured the best-of-five series 3-1. Article content Article content The 22-year-old Mailloux is living in the moment and will have no part of hypothetical scenarios. He has said he believes he's ready for full-time NHL employment and played seven games for Montreal this season, scoring two goals and four points. But he also was a minus-5, a number that won't translate well in the big leagues over a full season. Article content 'I'm trying to win hockey games,' Mailloux said. 'I'm hoping to win a Calder Cup before anything. That's what my focus is on. It's do-or-die time. Everybody has to elevate their game and do what they can to help the team win. I'm just trying to do my part. I'm just trying to play my game at both ends of the ice.' Article content The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Mailloux has worked hard on improving his defensive responsibilities under first-year Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent. Mailloux was plus-5 in 63 games this season, while scoring 12 goals and 33 points. While he produced more offensively last season with Laval — scoring 14 goals and 47 points in 72 games — he also went minus-8. Article content Article content 'I think he's playing his best hockey that I've seen so far,' Vincent said. 'Consistency-wise, routes on the ice, killing plays, decisions with the puck. What he does on special teams, I think he has been playing his best hockey. And he's a big piece of our success right now.' Article content Laurent Dauphin paced the Rocket with a pair of goals, both on the power play, as Laval went three-for-six with the man advantage. In Sunday's 3-1 loss on home ice, Laval failed to capitalize on four manpower advantages while also allowing a shorthanded goal. The Rocket took a commanding 3-0 lead following the first period, with Xavier Simoneau opening the scoring only 4:22 into the contest. Article content Luca Del Bel Belluz scored Cleveland's only goal, late in the second period, narrowing the deficit to 3-1 and providing the Monsters with some hope.
Calgary Herald
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Laval Rocket punches its ticket to next round of AHL playoffs
With the retirement of David Savard, the Canadiens will have at least one opening on defence next season. And Logan Mailloux is playing like a guy determined to take his best run at the opening. Article content Say what you will about Mailloux's alleged defensive shortcomings. The former first-round (31st overall) Canadiens draft choice in 2021 is wonderfully gifted offensively and would be an excellent complement to rookie Lane Hutson, a finalist for this season's Calder Trophy. Article content Article content Mailloux scored a power play goal and added an assist while producing four shots on net, as the Laval Rocket eliminated the Cleveland Monsters with a 4-1 victory Tuesday night at Place Bell. The Rocket, which finished first overall in the AHL and had an opening-round bye, captured the best-of-five series 3-1. Article content Article content The 22-year-old Mailloux is living in the moment and will have no part of hypothetical scenarios. He has said he believes he's ready for full-time NHL employment and played seven games for Montreal this season, scoring two goals and four points. But he also was a minus-5, a number that won't translate well in the big leagues over a full season. Article content 'I'm trying to win hockey games,' Mailloux said. 'I'm hoping to win a Calder Cup before anything. That's what my focus is on. It's do-or-die time. Everybody has to elevate their game and do what they can to help the team win. I'm just trying to do my part. I'm just trying to play my game at both ends of the ice.' Article content The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Mailloux has worked hard on improving his defensive responsibilities under first-year Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent. Mailloux was plus-5 in 63 games this season, while scoring 12 goals and 33 points. While he produced more offensively last season with Laval — scoring 14 goals and 47 points in 72 games — he also went minus-8. Article content Article content 'I think he's playing his best hockey that I've seen so far,' Vincent said. 'Consistency-wise, routes on the ice, killing plays, decisions with the puck. What he does on special teams, I think he has been playing his best hockey. And he's a big piece of our success right now.' Article content Laurent Dauphin paced the Rocket with a pair of goals, both on the power play, as Laval went three-for-six with the man advantage. In Sunday's 3-1 loss on home ice, Laval failed to capitalize on four manpower advantages while also allowing a shorthanded goal. The Rocket took a commanding 3-0 lead following the first period, with Xavier Simoneau opening the scoring only 4:22 into the contest. Article content Luca Del Bel Belluz scored Cleveland's only goal, late in the second period, narrowing the deficit to 3-1 and providing the Monsters with some hope.
