Rocket's Farrell notches two goals in Game 1 victory over Monsters
Rewritten Article:
Helluva game, huh? Sean Farrell scorched twice to light up the scoreboard for the Laval Rocket's nail-biting 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Monsters in their opening playoff clash.
Farrell caught fire in the second period, building on his red-hot form from the latter half of the regular season. In the home stretch, he racked up an astonishing 35 points in his final 30 games, earning himself top scorer buzz.
With that victory, the Rocket, who strutted their stuff last since April 19, seized a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 is scheduled for this Friday night, back in Cleveland.
Owen Beck also found the back of the net for Laval, who closed the regular season as the AHL's team to beat.
First-time playoff starter Jacob Fowler kept his cool between the pipes, staving off the Monsters until the Rocket took the reins. He racked up a solid 23 saves for the evening.
Veteran forwards Brandon Gignac and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard returned to the lineup after injuries sidelined them for weeks.
The Monsters pushed forward, propelled by a tidy performance from Joseph LaBate and Denton Mateychuk. Jet Greaves – who sparkled with Columbus Blue Jackets at season's end – surrendered three goals on 32 shots as the Rocket gritted their way to victory.
Game on, baby!
The Monsters caught Fowler off-guard early on, only to spoil their power play chance. Trey Fix-Wolansky had an empty net teed up, but a self-inflicted blunder frustrated fans. Laval squandered their chance, too, despite dominating play and peppering Greaves with quality chances.
The Rocket had a few more chances in the first half, with Simoneau and Roy both coming close but missing the mark.
It was a slow start, but in the second period, the tension ratcheted up. LaBate notched the first goal for the Monsters, quickly followed by two quickfire replies from Farrell, sealing the Rocket's lead.
Laval didn't eased up in the third, dominating play and extending their lead with Beck finding the twine. As the Monsters and the crowd moaned, the Rocket kept up the high-octane action, incurring late penalties that made for a nail-biting ending. The Monsters' Mateychuk managed to reduce the deficit, but the Rocket dug in their heels and clung on for the triumph.
That's all from us. Keep your eyes peeled for Friday's thriller, folks! 🏒
This report by The Canadian Press was published April 30, 2025.
In the thrilling 2025 AHL playoff clash, Sean Farrell, returning to the lineup, scored twice for Laval Rocket, securing a 1-0 series lead. Meanwhile, Owen Beck, also on the roster, found the back of the net. Jacob Fowler, a first-time playoff starter, showcased solid performance between the pipes. Brandon Gignac and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, returning after weeks of injury, joined the sports analysis. The Monsters, despite Denton Mateychuk's late goal, fell short, with Joseph LaBate's performance being noteworthy. The sports-betting community awaits Game 2 on Friday night.
