The Laval Rocket forced the holding of a final game in its series against the Springfield Thunderbirds by winning 5 to 1, Monday at the MassMutual Center.
Jean-François Houle’s troupe had to draw on its resources. While the Rocket pilot had chosen to send 11 attackers and seven defenders into the fray, he lost the services of Jesse Ylönen, injured by a check from Mackenzie MacEachern early in the game.
Houle has also confirmed that Ylönen will not be able to participate in the seventh game.
“We had to juggle [avec] our players before, but everyone, one after another, played well tonight, praised the Rocket pilot after the duel. I liked the way we were calm behind the bench. The guys believed it.”
Danick Martel made up for the loss of his Finnish teammate by scoring two goals and collecting an assist.
Cayden Primeau, meanwhile, continued to inspire confidence in front of the Rocket cage. He made 30 parries and multiplied key saves to keep his team in the game. Matthew Peca was the only player who managed to demystify it.
“We will repeat and repeat: he keeps us in all the games and gives us a chance to win, noted Martel. He is the best player on our team.”
Brandon Gignac, in an empty net, and Lucas Condotta, on the power play, also made the red light sparkle.
‘Proud of everyone’
Gabriel Bourque may only have two goals since the start of the playoffs, but he knows how to thread the needle when needed. After scoring the decisive goal that eliminated the Syracuse Crunch in the first round, he scored the insurance goal in the third period.
“I’m proud of everyone, launched Bourque, an integral part of the numerical inferiority units of the Rocket. Everyone played like a leader.”
Elsewhere, the catastrophic power play of the “T-Birds” continued its journey through the desert. Each of the 29 threats Jean-Francois Houle’s troupe has faced short of a man over the course of the series have been snuffed out.
Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals is Wednesday, again in Springfield.