It’s a tall order starting the AHL regular season on the road with a young team, but the Laval Rocket made it look easy.
Led by The Big 3 on defence, Logan Mailloux, William Trudeau, and Adam Engstrom scored four of Laval’s goals in a 5-2 win versus Providence last night. The Rocket dominated play from start to finish despite falling behind 2-0 early. They outshot the Bruins 39-14 and spent most of the contest in the offensive zone.
David Reinbacher may be out for six months but Engstrom looks ready to answer the call as his replacement in the top four. He continued to flash his puck skills and notched Laval’s first goal of the season in his first pro game in North America. It was a pivotal point in the game as, despite having a clear edge in play up until then, going down 3-0 on the road may have proved too difficult to overcome.
Laval dominated the first 40 minutes, outshooting Providence 22-8. Goals from Filip Mesar and Mailloux in the second period gave the Rocket a deserving lead that they would not relinquish. The Bruins scored on their first and fourth shots of the game, and Laval had to claw back from an early 2-0 deficit. Both goals were stoppable.
It brought back memories of Jakub Dobes’s start to last season. He struggled mightily in the first few weeks and started the season 0-2-1. Laval lost the season opener 7-4 last season, and the Rocket surrendered 28 goals in the first five games. Dobes had trouble stopping the puck and only began to find his game more than a month into the season.
Tyler Wotherspoon played a steady role in the second pairing with William Trudeau. He mainly focused on defending and showed solid mobility and decision-making. With Reinbacher’s injury, the Rocket are short only right defencemen until newly acquired Gustav Lindstrom is ready to play, so Trudeau played on the right side. Mind you, that duo looked so solid that they may be kept together.
Jared Davidson was feisty all game and even got into a pseudo-scrap. His all-around game is what made him such an effective junior and helped the Seattle Thunderbirds prosper in his final two seasons wearing a letter. The trio of Owen Beck, Filip Mesar, and Davidson spent plenty of time in the offensive zone, and the tireless efforts of Davidson and Beck, in particular, were instrumental in the Laval victory.
It was interesting that Luke Tuch went from a fourth-line role at even strength to playing on the first power-play unit. Perhaps even more interestingly, AHL rookie Engstrom was on the first power play instead of Mailloux, who is coming off of a highly productive rookie campaign. Farrell joined him on the point while Roy and Gignac lined up beside Tuch. Coach Vincent clearly likes to have a large presence in the crease area to create havoc for the goalie.
Early in the third period, despite holding a decisive 27-9 shot advantage, the outcome was still in doubt. Mesar made a great play along the wall and spotted Trudeau in the slot. Trudeau scored a spectacular wraparound goal, and the game never seemed in doubt thereafter, as Providence only mustered five more shots on goal.
After a lackluster NHL camp, Mesar excelled on opening night. He utilized his speed effectively and was rewarded with three points. The inclusions of Beck, Mesar, Tuch, Wotherspoon, and Engstrom have noticeably improved the club’s overall speed, and they outskated the Bruins the entire contest.
Beck went pointless on his AHL debut, but he played a solid two-way game and ended the match +2. He effectively used his speed, smarts, and hustle, enabling Davidson and Mesar to concentrate on creating offensive chances, which they did with regularity.
After that performance by Mailloux, it is easy to understand that GM Kent Hughes picked up Lindstrom. Mailloux will not be an AHL defenceman for much longer. Hughes was patient last year with the three-goalie system because he didn’t want to lose Cayden Primeau on waivers, but he can’t remain patient with Justin Barron in Montreal for much longer. Mailloux is ahead of him both offensively and defensively, and he can help the Canadiens now. Don’t be surprised if Barron is either waived or traded soon if his game doesn’t pick up.
Yes, Barron was the primary return in Hughes’s first-ever NHL deal. It’s never easy to give up on a young player you had high hopes for, but you can’t make it personal. You need to do what is best for the club, and right now – having Mailloux in the lineup instead of Barron improves the NHL club.
It’s encouraging to see the Rocket score five goals on a night when the top line is held off the scoresheet. It’s not like they didn’t have chances, as Gignac and Roy combined for 11 shots on goal. Look for a more balanced lineup and more goals from a young club that will need them.
Here was the opening night lineup:
Farrell Gignac Roy
Davidson Beck Mesar
Dauphin Condotta Simoneau
Arseneau Xhekaj Tuch
Engstrom Mailloux
Wotherspoon Trudeau
Jandric Jacobs
Dobes
Riley Kidney was scratched just before game time for former Providence winger Victor Arseneau. It’s unclear whether he was dealing with an injury, but even if he was, he is starting on the fourth line after a decent NHL training camp. Kidney will need to prove himself to his new coach.
Zackary Hayes looked solid in NHL preseason but was not dressed for the season opener. If he’s healthy, look for him to get in the lineup tonight in Springfield.
