Slow to get going, the Laval Rocket had to work hard to tie the game on Tuesday in Syracuse. The game was worth the candle as he defeated the Crunch 3-2 in overtime in the fifth and final game of this second-round series.
After Cédric Paquette revived the Montreal Canadiens’ club-school hopes just 39 seconds from the final whistle in the third period, Gabriel Bourque put an end to hostilities in the extra period.
Jean-François Houle’s squad will now face the winners of the series between the Utica Comets and the Rochester Americans in the North Section final. The two teams are due to meet on Thursday for the fifth game of this series.
Bad start
An audacious pass from Jean-Sébastien Dea on the power play was the source of the game’s first goal. Anticipating the play, Anthony Richard intercepted the puck and headed alone towards Cayden Primeau, who he beat with a fake.
Richard, one of the many Quebecers at the Tampa Bay Lightning-affiliated club, seems to have enjoyed playing against a team from his native province. He was the Crunch’s top scorer with four goals in five games.
A lucky leap then saw the home favorites double their second-half lead. When Primeau cut a pass, the puck ricocheted off Ryan Jones’ chest before ending up in the back of the net.
Alex Blezile, on the power play, then closed the gap by deflecting a shot from Louie Belpedio. Like Richard on the other side, he has four goals in this series.
Primeau was brilliant, making 32 saves. He has only conceded 10 goals in four starts in this series. The Quebecer Maxime Lagacé has nothing to be ashamed of in the loss, he who was the target of 36 shots.