Pascal Vincent had three wishes before the second match in the series between the Laval Rocket and the Cleveland Monsters. And the three were granted on Friday evening.
The head coach of the best training in the American hockey league (Lah) in the regular season wanted his players to start each of the three periods better, play at a sustained pace for 60 minutes and return to Laval with two victories in his pocket.
Vincent therefore sported a wide smile after his team’s 4-0 victory. “We are a physical team that is difficult [à affronter]. The intensity without the washer ensures that we create chances of scoring. The guys were ready. They were hungry. »»
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, ARCHIVES LA PRESSE
Jared Davidson (49)
A little more than two minutes after the start of the game, Florian Xhekaj won a game in the opposing zone. Jared Davidson jumped on the free washer to beat Jet Greaves with a good shot.
At the start of the second period, three minutes and 12 seconds after the recovery, Lucas Condotta made the ropes vibrate on a descent for two against one with Xavier Simoneau. Throughout the match, the Monsters had to play catch -up hockey. And the Rocket was only to protect his advance.
We started the match knowing that we needed this victory. We managed to impose our style of play.
Jared Davidson
The monster players quickly seemed to concede the victory to their rivals. Lifeless, without intention and without rescue plan, the locals have never been in the blow. Mainly because the Rocket dictated the pace of the match from start to finish. In the third period, in a cause which seemed won in advance, Alex Barré-Boulet and Gustav Lindström took advantage of the lack of vigor of the monsters to add two goals to this unequivocal domination of the Rocket.
Give nothing
The recruit goalkeeper Jacob Fowler was bothering a fifth match in the professional ranks. He pushed the 20 shots directed towards him. “He is very calm,” says Vincent. He looks comfortable in front of the net. He doesn’t seem like a young goalkeeper who has been playing for only a few games for professionals for only. »»
This laundering is obviously his, but without the brilliance of the defensive brigade evolving before him, the story could have been different.
Rocket defenders played a match without reproach. Fowler never had to report too much to correct an error from a teammate. The Monsters have set off their first shot from the meeting seven minutes and 30 seconds after the initial game. As in the last match, the rear of the Rocket left no room for maneuver to their opponents with a digital equality. The monsters have yet scored any five -for -five goal in this series.
-In our area, we have not left many things. We were good to keep them outside. In our area, we played very well.
William Trudeau
Even when he was to defend himself short of a man, the Rocket excelled in his area. Of two of the four digital disadvantages they had to defend, Laval gave no shot.
“The guys are proud to play well defensively,” said Vincent. They did it well all year round. We played under pressure all year round. But I am impressed with the way they defended. »»
And if the defenders waterproof the area they have to defend, they also find a way to contribute in attack. Nine of the 29 Rocket shots came from the support point, including 5 from the duo formed by William Trudeau and Logan Mailloux.
Back to the fold
The Rocket is therefore one victory to complete this series. He will have three opportunities to do so at home in the coming days.
To see how this team was held on the road, it is hard to believe that it can lose three consecutive games. She did it once this season, at the end of November, during a sequence on the road during which she faced three different teams.
Laval won 24 of his 36 games this season at home, second in the American League in this chapter. With in addition two victories inspired on the road, against a team already presenting signs of helplessness and frustration, the players of the Rocket feel that they are really the masters of their destiny.
They are on the wind in the sails. And said sails are fully deployed.
“Throughout the year, the coaches have established a style of play of series. Everyone accepted it. I think we have become a difficult group to stop, ”added Trudeau.
There are still certain aspects of the game to perfect, still insists Vincent. The team must be more disciplined. Players in search of experience like David Reinbacher will undoubtedly have to adjust in specific situations to enhance the quality of their game.
Besides these details, however, the head coach had only good words with regard to his players. According to him, this team has everything to succeed. He believed in the first game of the season and he believed in it even more firmly after these two games on the road.
“The players accepted our way of playing. But to continue to do it as they do … I feel privileged to be part of this team. »»
