Joshua Roy works his magic (again) in a Rocket victory

It doesn’t happen often, but the Laval Rocket played a (weekday) afternoon game today in Winnipeg.

Jean-François Houle’s men were trying to win a second consecutive game against the Moose, and they did so with flying colors.

The game ended 5-2, and the second win in a row will do much to boost the Rocket’s morale after a difficult start to the season.

Here’s what I remember about the game.

1. It’s often said, but Joshua Roy is a hockey player through and through.

He worked his magic today, racking up two points in his team’s victory, bringing his total to 16 so far this season (in 12 games).

To think that the Canadiens drafted him in the fifth round, with the 150th pick of the 2021 draft…

In the victory, the chemistry between Roy and Sean Farrell was particularly noticeable. The latter served up an entire pass to the Quebecer, enabling Roy to hit the target for the seventh time this season:

At the right place in front of the net, Joshua Roy scores his seventh of the season

At the right place in front of the net, Joshua Roy scores his seventh of the season #GoRocket https://t.co/YMqw626ieg pic.twitter.com/RelcIMv8zY

– Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) November 13, 2023

In the third period, the two young men went at it again, and it was Farrell who completed the beautiful sequence this time.

The Rocket arrived on the counter-attack and Roy spotted Farrell at the mouth of the net, who only had to deposit the puck in a virtually abandoned cage :

JOSHUA ROY TO SEAN FARRELL AGAIN!

Rocket up 5-2! pic.twitter.com/VH8YFP54r0

– Scott Matla (@scottmatla) November 13, 2023

Roy finished the game with a goal and an assist, while Farrell collected a goal and two assists.

The American really seems to be finding his feet on the ice: he boasts nine points in 12 games this season, a relatively interesting production for an AHL rookie.

2. Strauss Mann was brilliant in the Rocket’s win, stopping 26 of the 28 pucks directed his way.

Now in his second season in the AHL at the age of 25, Mann picked up his first win in a Laval Rocket uniform. He had not won in his last six outings.

It’ll do his confidence a world of good.

3. Xavier Simoneau’s performance would be foolish to overlook.

The diminutive forward played as he does so well: he troubled the opposition all game and was one of the Rocket’s most dangerous forwards.

Simoneau had yet to score in nine games this season, but he opened his account with not one, but two goals against the Moose. Simoneau now has eight points (including two goals) in ten games.

If he continues to perform like this and keeps the same intensity on the ice, chances are he’ll have a superb career at the professional level.

SIMONEAU

LAV 4 – 1 MB pic.twitter.com/lrcD0gXVGI

– Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) November 13, 2023

4. It’s the first time all season that we’ve seen the Canadian’s club-school win back-to-back games.

The Rocket returns home for two games this week at Place Bell. On Wednesday, the Belleville Senators will be the visitors, while the Laval outfit will take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday.

The Rocket will have to take advantage: the Senators (6-4-0) are in 19th place and the Phantoms (5-6-2) are 21st in the overall AHL standings.

Sounds promising.