AHL playoffs: Rocket wins and advances to next round

And let’s talk about Logan Mailloux’s first period: the defenseman was really, really dominant during the first 20 minutes of the game. We saw him play inspired hockey yesterday… and it makes you wonder if he listened to Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton’s press briefing yesterday.

Because clearly, he played like someone who’d been paying attention when the executives talked about the fact that they’d be watching the Rocket playoffs to see which guys look ready to make the jump to the big club.

We should also mention Jacob Fowler, who was in front of his team’s net after giving way to Cayden Primeau for Game #3. And once again, the young goalie was solid in front of the net.

The only goal he allowed came in the second period, when Luca Del Bel Belluz beat him… even though he was offside. So Fowler didn’t award a single “good” goal.

Otherwise, the young goalie really looked confident in front of his net. He didn’t make any spectacular saves for one simple reason: he didn’t have to.

He was helped by his defense, of course, but he read the game so well that he was always well placed when a shot was headed his way.

In the end, therefore, the Rocket won 4-1, with Dauphin completing the scoring in an empty net. And in doing so, the Habs’ club-school eliminates the Monsters and moves on to the next round.

The club’s next series will pit it against the Rochester Americans (the Buffalo Sabres’ feeder club), who swept the Syracuse Crunch (the Tampa Bay Lightning’s feeder club) in the first round.

Overtime

– Great Xhekaj.

– The loss in Game 3 may have been good for the Rocket.

– Golden Knights without Alex Pietrangelo tonight.