(Rochester) Jiri Kulich flashed the red light during a power play in overtime for the Rochester Americans and the Laval Rocket suffered a third defeat in a row, this time 4-3, on Wednesday.
Hunted for an obstructive gesture while Zach Metsa came alone in front of Jakub Dobes, Sean Farrell saw Kulich score his 11th goal of the season to end the match.
“[This penalty] cost us a point,” said head coach Jean-François Houle. It wasn’t a big hit, but it’s part of the game. We must not blame the referees. »
Annoyed by the officials’ decision, Xavier Simoneau received a game misconduct after the match.
“It could have gone one way or the other,” said Quebecer Alex-Olivier Voyer after the match. It’s hard to swallow, but we face them on Friday, so we’re looking forward to them. »
The table is therefore set for the fifth duel of the season between the two clubs, which will take place on Friday in Rochester.
Voyer was the first scorer of the game, hitting the target 12:31 into the first period. Well placed in the slot, he took advantage of a pass from Riley Kidney to make a one-timer.
Never drafted, Voyer scored his first goal of the campaign in his second game with the Rocket. He started the season with the Trois-Rivières Lions, with whom he totaled two goals and 10 points in 11 games.
“I’m really happy to be here,” Voyer said. I’m happy to have this opportunity. It’s up to me to learn. I’ve been waiting for a chance like this here for a long time, so I’m happy to be in the lineup for a second consecutive match. »
Joel Armia then doubled the visitors’ lead 4:48 later when he escaped shorthanded. The Finn scored in a second straight game, having six goals and nine points in eight games in the American League.
Having himself scored his two goals short of a man this season, Justin Richards took advantage of a breakaway with 59 seconds remaining in the first period to score his first tied-up goal of the game. He thus reduced the gap by half.
His teammate Brandon Biro tied the game with a point shot at the start of the second.
Covering his teammate Nicolas Beaudin, who had launched an attack, forward Joshua Roy was completely thwarted by Viktor Neuchev’s puck handling in the third period.
The Americans’ Russian rookie took the opportunity to give his team the lead for the first time in the match with his second goal in North America.
Rather than feeling sorry for himself, Beaudin rolled up his sleeves and once again brought the two teams back to an equal footing 2:30 later by taking advantage of a long throw return. It was his first goal of the campaign in seven games.
“I think I played a good match,” said Beaudin. Since the start of the year, when I have been in training, I think I have given good performances. »
Nathan Légaré could have made the difference in the last minute of regulation time, but his breakaway shot hit the post.
The Rocket thus remains in last place in the North section with a record of 5-9-2. Dobes made 31 saves, while former Montreal Canadiens Dustin Tokarski was tested 41 times at the other end of the ice.
The Rocket was without defenders Jayden Struble – who started his first NHL game late in the evening – and Mattias Norlinder, both recalled by the Canadian for his trip to California.
Struble, who returned to action Saturday with the Rocket after serving a three-game suspension, was one of the Rocket’s best players in a 6-3 loss to the Utica Comets.
While his teammates tried as best they could to draw on their last reserves of energy in this fifth game in seven days, Struble shone with two assists.
