Connor Hughes made 27 saves and the Laval Rocket defeated the Providence Bruins 2-1 on Friday night at Place Bell.
Without Hughes’ brilliance, the Canadiens’ farm team probably wouldn’t have won a sixth straight game and probably wouldn’t have gone undefeated in five home games either.
The 28-year-old goalkeeper took over from Jakub Dobes, who missed Friday night’s clash with a lower-body injury. His case is being assessed daily and he could be available on Saturday afternoon, when the same two clubs face off again.
Deprived of Alex Barré-Boulet, who is injured in the upper body, the Rocket (7-1-0) was more timid in attack. Jared Davidson, on the power play, and Owen Beck, on the penalty kill, threaded the needle in the victory.
It was ultimately Hughes and his penalty kill unit who wrote the story of the game. Laval didn’t give up a single goal in six chances with one player down.
Georgii Merkulov scored the lone goal for the Bruins (3-5-0), who were visiting Place Bell for the first time since December 17, 2021. Michael DiPietro stopped 14 pucks.
The two teams were meeting for the second time this season. The Rocket had triumphed 5-2 in Providence on October 11.
Furthermore, defender Logan Mailloux returned to the Laval team, after being demoted by the Canadiens earlier this week.
Hughes stands out
The Rocket were downed in the first minute of the game and came within inches of pulling away quickly. Vinni Lettieri, who was sitting at the left circle, fired a shot past Hughes but hit two posts behind him.
Hughes continued to make his mark in the first half, standing up to Lettieri and Patrick Brown before receiving support from his teammates.
During a power play, the Tricolore farm team wove its web into enemy territory. Mailloux slipped the puck to Davidson, who hit the target with a powerful one-timer.
The Bruins came back a few minutes later, bombarding Hughes’ net with several shots, but the Rocket goalie closed the door. Laval also limited the damage for nearly a minute, during a two-man penalty kill.
Pascal Vincent’s team started the second period well and settled into the visitors’ zone on a few occasions. DiPietro was not really tested, however.
The rest of the period belonged to the Bruins, who played with much more aggression and intensity than their opponents. And by dint of trying their luck, they finally tied the game.
Positioned between two Rocket players, Merkulov recovered the puck and used Tyler Wotherspoon as a screen to deceive Hughes. Hughes redeemed himself with less than two minutes to go, frustrating Brown twice by reaching out with his right pad.
As it had done in the second period, the Laval team started the third period with aplomb, despite a numerical disadvantage. This time, it was able to add a goal to the scoreboard.
Brandon Gignac forced a turnover and taunted defenseman Ian Mitchell before getting the puck to Beck. The rookie forward showed patience and backhanded the ball for his second goal of the season.
The Bruins increased the pressure to tie the game, but Hughes and his defense gave their all to confirm their team’s victory.
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