The Laval Rocket continued their extraordinary run Saturday afternoon, securing a 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Monsters at Place Bell adn extending their winning streak to five games. The win not only completed a two-game sweep of a key divisional rival, but further solidifies Laval’s position as leaders in the North Division with the playoffs rapidly approaching. Several Rocket players are also poised for recognition,with upcoming appearances at the All-Star Classic [[1,2,3]].
The Laval Rocket secured their fifth consecutive victory on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Cleveland Monsters 4-1 at Place Bell and solidifying their hold on first place in the North Division. The win completed a two-game sweep of a key divisional opponent.
Alex Belzile led the charge with two goals, while Xavier Simoneau and Joshua Roy also found the back of the net for Laval. The Rocket’s dominant performance came despite a feisty contest marked by penalties and intensity.
The game took a dramatic turn in the second period when Simoneau, having just been released from the penalty box after a questionable double-minor call, scored a short-handed goal to extend Laval’s lead to 3-0. “You know what? I think it’s karma,” head coach Pascal Vincent said, cautiously adding, “He comes out of the box, he’s available, and we execute the play. I’m happy for him. He is so loved in the locker room that when these things happen, the whole team supports him.”
Simoneau acknowledged the emotional rollercoaster of the game, stating, “It’s sometimes difficult to stay focused, and there are a lot of emotions, but I think we are better than last year in that aspect.” The goal ended a 19-game scoring drought for the forward.
Belzile, meanwhile, broke a 10-game drought of his own, redirecting a pass from Samuel Blais to give Laval a 2-0 advantage. The 34-year-old veteran reached the 20-goal plateau for the first time in his American Hockey League career, later adding his 21st goal late in the second period. “Of course, you think about it in the back of your mind, but in recent games, even if I wasn’t scoring, we were able to create offense,” Belzile explained. “It’s nice to have my best season in terms of goals at 34, and it’s not over yet. I’ve had the opportunity to play with very good teammates this season and I want to continue to play the same way in the playoffs.”
Roy opened the scoring for Laval with a sharp wrist shot, assisted by Filip Mesar. Samuel Blais finished the afternoon with two assists, contributing to a strong showing from Quebec-born players on the Rocket roster. “It kind of reminds me of when we played in junior. There are a lot of Quebecers and it’s nice to have so many on the team. I feel privileged to play near home and be part of such a good team. I think this is just the beginning for us,” Blais said.
Jacob Fowler, earning continued trust from his coach, appeared more comfortable in net, stopping 22 shots for the win. Luca Del Bel Belluz scored the lone goal for the Monsters (23-15-7), who suffered their first regulation loss in nine games. Zach Sawchenko allowed four goals on 25 shots.
The Rocket will return to action on Friday, February 23rd, when they host the Hershey Bears. Several Laval players will also be recognized, as Pascal Vincent, Laurent Dauphin, Fowler, and Engström will represent the team at the All-Star Classic.
Rocket Start and Continued Confidence
Laval carried the momentum from their Friday night win into Saturday’s game, starting with a confident and aggressive approach. Roy’s early goal set the tone, giving the Rocket an immediate lead.
The Monsters attempted to respond, but Laval maintained possession and limited Cleveland’s scoring opportunities throughout the first period. The rivalry between the two teams escalated in the second period, with a flurry of action in a five-minute span.
Belzile initially tested Sawchenko on the power play, but quickly redirected a pass from Blais to double Laval’s lead. Just 21 seconds later, Simoneau capitalized on a feed from Engström, unleashing a quick shot to make it 3-0. A subsequent two-on-one rush saw Roy nearly score, but Sawchenko denied him with a right pad save.
Fowler matched his counterpart with a key save of his own, denying Owen Sillinger. However, Del Bel Belluz managed to beat Fowler, scoring a power-play goal to cut the deficit to 3-1. Laval quickly regained control, with Belzile scoring again while on the man advantage, extending the lead to 4-1.
The Rocket didn’t let up in the third period, allowing their fans to celebrate a decisive victory. The win extends Laval’s winning streak and strengthens their position atop the North Division standings as the playoffs approach.
