Stepping Stone Towards an Improved Conclusion

Laval Rocket's Coach Pascal Vincent had a trio of wishes before Game 2 against the Cleveland Monsters, and all three came true on May 2, 2025! Coach Vinny wanted his boys to kick things off strong in each period, play with relentless energy throughout, and secure two wins in their pockets. The man was grinning ear to ear after the 4-0 victory.

"We're a heavy, hard-hitting squad that's a pain in the neck to face," Vincent declared. "Our intensity off the puck generates scoring opportunities. The lads were pumped, raring to go!"

Jared Davidson scored just over two minutes into the game, nabbing a loose puck from a Florian Xhekaj faceoff win to rocket a good shot past Jet Greaves.

Early in the second period, Laval's Lucas Condotta fired a puck into the net during a two-on-one rush with Xavier Simoneau. The Monsters had no choice but to play catch-up hockey, while the Rocket just had to safeguard their lead.

"We knew we needed this win and were able to place our style of play all over the ice," Davidson said.

The Monsters' lack of vigor and resolve late in the game was palpable, as they never really got into the match. The Rocket set the pace and controlled play from the opening faceoff to the final buzzer. In the third period, the Monsters seemed to have thrown in the towel. Alex Barre-Boulet and Gustav Lindstrom added two more goals, making the Rocket's victory even more dominating.

conceal the secret

Backstopping the Rocket in his fifth professional game was young gun Jacob Fowler, a rookie just breaking onto the scene. Fowler stopped all 20 shots that came his way. "He's like a cool cucumber out there," Vincent praised. "He looks calm and collected, not like a young goaltender with only a handful of pro games under his belt."

Fowler's fantastic performance was certainly his own, but his defensive teammates played a crucial part too. Without the sturdy defense the Rocket showcased, things could have gone differently.

The Rocket defensemen had a near-flawless game, with Fowler never needing to rescue a teammate from a mistake. Cleveland didn't get a shot on net until seven minutes and 30 seconds into the game, and even on the powerplay, the Rocket refused to give up any advantage to their opponents.

"In our zone, we didn't let much slip by," said William Trudeau. "We kept them at arm's length in our end."

Even when playing a man short, the Rocket's zone held firm. On two of their four penalty kills, Laval didn't even allow a shot on goal.

"The lads take pride in their defensive play," Vincent reminded the press. "We've been doing it all year—facing pressure since day one. But I've got to say, I'm impressed with their tenacity."

If their defensemen create a rock-solid zone to defend, they also pitch in offensively. Nine of the Rocket's 29 shots came from the blue line, with William Trudeau and Logan Mailloux each contributing five.

Off we go

The Rocket now have one win away from ending the series against Cleveland. They'll have three chances to do just that at home in the coming days.

Given how they've demolished opponents on the road, it's hard to imagine the Rocket losing three consecutive games. Their only previous streak of three straight losses occurred back in late November in a stretch where they faced several different teams.

Laval has won 24 of their 36 home games this season, ranking second in the American League in that category. Two more road victories against a demoralized and frustrated opposition have the Rocket players feeling in control of their destiny.

"We're riding high, fair winds filling our sails," Trudeau added.

The team still needs some areas to improve, like discipline and on-ice communication. Players like David Reinbacher, looking to gain experience, might need to adjust their approaches in certain situations to elevate their play.

Beyond these minor loopholes, however, Vincent only gushed about his team. He's believed in them from Day 1 and feels even more confident after these two road victories.

"The team has accepted our approach to the game. But to keep it up like this... I feel honored to be part of this team."

Jacob Fowler, the backup goalie for Laval Rocket, showed a cool and collected performance in his fifth professional game, stopping all 20 shots that came his way.
The defense of Laval Rocket played a significant part in Fowler's successful outing, as they demonstrated a near-flawless performance, keeping the Cleveland Monsters at bay.
Vincent praised Fowler's performance, noting that he didn't show signs of being a rookie with limited professional games, playing like a calm and poised veteran.
The defensive play of the Rocket, whether in their offensive or defensive end, was crucial to their dominating victory over Cleveland in Game 2 of the series, particularly on the penalty kill, where they managed to spare the Monsters a shot on goal on two occasions.