Laval Rocket Sweeps Weekend With 5-2 Win Over Binghamton Devils

For the second straight night, Binghamton failed to perform for 60 minutes and it cost them dearly as the Laval Rocket completed the weekend sweep with a 5-2 drubbing over the Devils on Saturday. After last weekend’s encouraging victories in Cleveland, The BDevils lost their second in a row and are now percentage points away from landing in the basement of the North Division.

The cause wasn’t helped in the opening twenty minutes when Binghamton didn’t register a shot on goal and with a chorus of boos heard from the large home crowd at the end of the period. Meanwhile, the Rocket scored on one of their eight shots as rookie Morgan Adams-Moisan recorded his first professional goal on a nice spin-o-rama move and landed the puck up high, far side past Mackenzie Blackwood from the slot area.

Photo provided by Alicia Strauch

The Devils finally succeeded a SOG nearly three minutes into the second period with loud mock cheers heard from the stands as it’s been a frustrating season all around including the fan-base.

It didn’t get much better when Alexandre Grenier made it 2-0 on a controversial play as he interfered/tripped up defenseman Egor Yakovlev with no call from either one of the officials. It would be that sort of night as nothing was going right for the Devils. But, soon we had ourselves a game as Binghamton got two quick goals over the span of 1:49 to tie it and restore some encouragement from the fans.

Devils’ rookie D-man Tariq Hammond scored his first pro goal with a wrister from the blue line through traffic that landed down low by netminder Michael McNiven. Then, after a battle in the crease by Nathan Bastian on his own rebound, the game was tied at two apiece for his 15th of the season. The Devils out-shot the Rocket 16-4 in what was their best period of the evening.

But unfortunately, the feel goods would come crashing down in the final period as you can’t play one good period and expect results.

The Rocket pulled away with three unanswered goals by Lukas Vejdemo with a pass from the wall by Nikita Jevpalovs, followed by an Alex Belzile tally and including an empty netter by Daniel Audette, for the final score of 5-2. Shots in favor of the Devils 24-22.

Line-Up, Game #54

Forwards: Tangradi - McLeod - Bastian, Quenneville - Sharangovich - Saracino, Gignac - Schmelzer - Studenic, Baddock - Speers - Popugaev

Defensemen: White - Murphy, Yakovlev - Ramage, Hammond - Jacobs

In Goal: Mackenzie Blackwood, Evan Cormier

Scratches: Brian Strait, Eddie Lack, Colby Sissons, Blake Pietila and Cam Johnson

Post Game Notes

• Blackwood returned after being out sick, Sissons a healthy and Pietila injured.
• l cannot put a finger on these last two nights after what was so encouraging last weekend against the Monsters. 20 minutes isn’t going to give the results you are looking for and with ³⁄₄ of the season nearly completed, it doesn’t look all that rosy for the 4th Quarter.
• Zero shots in the opening period.
• l also fully expect a win in Rochester on Sunday as the team left right after for the bus ride. It’s been that type of season that gives you hope, only to be disappointed and brings you right back in it with the unexpected.
• Zero. Nil. Nothing.
• Laval entered the weekend with a 7 game losing streak. They now have won 2 in a row at the expense of the Devils. Rocket players showed their cockiness when introduced with the 2 Stars of the Game by mock clapping to the Devils’ fans.
• JQ had his 6 game point streak snapped as his line with Sharangovich and Saracino moved from the third line to the second tonight.
• Can’t win if you don’t put the puck on net. No shots for over 20 minutes? Speechless.

Three Stars

#1. Lukas Vejdemo (1g, 1a), #2. Nikita Jevpalovs (2a), #3. Tariq Hammond (1g)

Video Highlights

N/A

Upcoming Games

Binghamton hits the road for a Sunday afternoon meeting with the Amerks in Rochester to complete the three in three weekend.