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The Laval Rocket won their first playoff game in Cleveland against the Monsters.
Fowler was solid and the first trio led the charge offensively.
On this Friday night, it was the second game of the series between the Rocket and the Monsters.
Here is Pascal Vincent’s line-up:
Our lineup for game 2
Our lineup for game 2@PizzaPizzaLtd pic.twitter.com/HYH8VjhQlr– xyz – Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) May 2, 2025
You can see Jacob Fowler getting his second straight start.
Nice gesture of confidence from Vincent on his young protégé.
The Rocket started the game like a lion, setting the tone quickly.
With just over two minutes left in the game, Jared Davidson scored directly after Florian Xhekaj won the face-off.
Well, it wasn’t as powerful as Ovechkin’s shot on the face-off, but it had good velocity all the same.
Davidson from Xhekaj!
Win the face-off, shoot, score https://t.co/okYMBfXIvt pic.twitter.com/Vz4Hd69QAF– xyz – Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) May 2, 2025
The first period really went Laval’s way.
After 20 minutes, the shots were 11-6 in favor of the Rocket.
Fowler wasn’t tested much, but he held down the fort.
The Monsters had only one real chance to score, which obviously came from little Trey Fix-Wolansky.
For once, it wasn’t the first trio that stood out for the Rocket, but the 4th trio of Xhekaj, Davidson and Luke Tuch. A line I like, by the way.
Cleveland had only one real chance to score in the first period, Trey Fix-Wolansky’s power-play goal. The Rocket continues to excel defensively. At the other end, it’s the Davidson-Xhekaj-Tuch 4th trio that’s having the most success.
– Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) May 2, 2025
Once again, the second period went in Laval’s favor.
Cleveland was limited to six short shots, just like in the first 20 minutes, while the Rocket recorded nine.
In this period, captain Lucas Condotta doubled his team’s lead with a precise shot:
https://t.co/VDq8f 5LmSI pic.twitter.com/3W7zSsw84X
– xyz – Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) May 3, 2025
Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Xavier Simoneau were credited with an assist.
After 40 minutes of play, the score was 2-0 for Pascal Vincent’s team.
After five playoff periods against Cleveland, Laval has yet to be beaten five-on-five, which is pretty impressive.
Still incredible. The Rocket has yet to give up an even-strength goal in 5 periods on the road in this series. A colossal effort from everyone on every puck. Very few major fouls to give the Monsters any openings.
– Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) May 3, 2025
Cleveland simply wasn’t in the game in Game #2.
Laval completely outclassed the Columbus Blue Jackets’ club team.
With just over 13 minutes left in the game, Quebec’s Alex Barré-Boulet scored his first goal of the playoffs.
Sean Farrell picked up his 3rd point of the series, while Laurent Dauphin was also credited with an assist.
Barré-Boulet in the right place at the right time! It’s 3-0 Rocket in Cleveland.
Follow the game on #RDS pic.twitter.com/ZirQnHU3qf
– RDS (@RDSca) May 3, 2025
And finally, Gustav Lindstrom nailed the coffin with a goal.
Dauphin and ABB each collected an assist on the goal.
Gustav, well placed
Right spot, right time https://t.co/dWu6vIZs4s pic.twitter.com/7nVKSkDBW0– xyz – Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) May 3, 2025
The Rocket held the fort for the rest of the game and were able to shutout, thanks to Fowler’s fine work (19 saves).
The Rocket dominated the shots and gave their opponents no chance.
With this victory, the Rocket took a 2-0 lead in the series and will play the remainder of the series in Laval.
The next game is Sunday at 3:00 p.m.
Extensions
– Florian Xhekaj is indispensable to the Rocket, especially in the series. I don’t need to tell you that he doesn’t hesitate to hand out body checks, but his physical presence and versatility give the Rocket plenty of chances. And to think he’s a pro rookie who played mostly on the fourth line.
Florian Xhekaj had an exceptional game for the Rocket. Solid on 200 feet of ice.
– Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) May 3, 2025
Florian Xhekaj has had an excellent rookie year, and most impressively, he’s doing it from the fourth line.
Limited opportunities, but very encouraging production.
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) May 3, 2025
– Once again, Laval’s defensive brigade was solid, limiting the Monsters’ scoring chances.
Laval has given Cleveland absolutely nothing. Dominant defensive game.
– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) May 3, 2025
More must-reads:
- Carter Hart, others found not guilty in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial
- Hurricanes take care of business, sign star winger to lucrative eight-year extension
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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Top NHL Analyst Provides Update on Canucks Possible Offer Sheet for Two Star Players
Top NHL analyst Stephan Roget of 'Canucks Army' believes the Canucks could definitely offer sheet Mason McTavish or Marco Rossi, but they likely won't. Offer sheets remain one of the less common NHL deals, so a midsummer offer sheet from the Vancouver Canucks would remain highly unlikely. The player must be a restricted free agent (RFA) to be offer-sheet eligible, and come mid-July, there are not many remaining who are. Two of them are strong possibilities for whom the Canucks would consider making an offer sheet: Anaheim Ducks' Mason McTavish and Minnesota Wild's Marco Rossi. And offer sheets are a two-part process. Your team has to first make an offer. And then there has to be acceptance of a player before his current team is in a position to counter. That is uncertainty enough. Any offer sheet from the Canucks would have to be at least $11.7 million per year The Canucks would only be able to give Mason McTavish or Marco Rossi at the absolute highest compensation level, above $11.7 million annually. That would cost four protected first-rounders across five drafts to the Canucks. While both Rossi and McTavish would certainly appreciate an offer of this nature, whether either is truly worth this kind of investment of this size, especially for Vancouver, a club not comfortably in a playoff position, is questionable. 'As it stands, the Canucks are still eligible to make offer sheets to McTavish and Rossi - but only certain offer sheets. 'Whether it's realistic to expect a mid-summer offer sheet from the Canucks, is no'. - Stephan Roget Bottom line: While theoretically, a Canucks summer offer sheet is conceivable, too high a price, in cap space and future equity, makes it extremely unlikely, per NHL analyst Stephan Roget of 'Canucks Army.'
Naomi Osaka admits if she wants to face Emma Raducanu again after Washington Open defeat
Emma Raducanu brought Naomi Osaka’s Washington Open campaign to an end with a performance full of confidence. Raducanu, enjoying her best form in some time, has looked sharp since crossing over from Wimbledon to the US hard courts and is now putting together a strong run on both sides of the draw. Her timing couldn’t be better, with the summer swing in full flow and eyes already turning towards Flushing Meadows later in August. For Osaka, though, this was another frustrating defeat by a player she might have expected to beat. In the aftermath, she was even asked whether it was worth facing Raducanu again anytime soon. Naomi Osaka shares thoughts on Emma Raducanu after defeat at Washington Open After the loss, Osaka took time to break down her performance and also spoke about what impressed her about Raducanu’s game. Starting with her own play, she mentioned: “I think honestly I have been working on my return a lot, and ironically I don’t think it was that bad today. I think she served quite well. I guess just keep working on that, working on my serve. I know it’s one of my biggest weapons. “Today the percentages were off, so hopefully improving that. Then I guess just baseline tennis. I feel like from the baseline, like, I was doing pretty well. I think there are certain situations where she got one more ball back and I was kind of just looking and waiting. So kind of getting more accustomed to being comfortable being aggressive. When asked how facing Raducanu compared to watching her previously, Osaka said: “Oh. So when I say I watched her, it might not have necessarily been her tennis. Might have been like interviews and stuff like that. “Yeah, I mean, I watched her in Wimbledon, but I think it is different playing someone in real life than playing them or seeing them on TV. “So I think for me, honestly, it was really good to get the experience, to feel how her ball is. Yeah, hopefully we meet again.” Naomi Osaka comments on her relationship with fellow players Osaka didn’t just talk about the match itself – she also shared how she’s been interacting with other players off the court. For example, the Japanese star was asked if she’d like to get to know Raducanu or other players better, to which she replied: “I mean, yes, but I don’t know. “I don’t know if I’m, like, I look scary or something, but I have been saying hi to everyone for the past year and a half since I have been back, and I think they still think I’m kind of like extremely introverted and/or have RBF. So we haven’t really, like, proceeded past the ‘Hi, how are you doing’ phase.” Osaka admitted she felt confused after her defeat to Raducanu, having played much better than the scoreline suggested. It’s Raducanu who moves forward into the quarter-finals while Osaka once again finds herself reflecting on what comes next.
All signs point to Yankees moving on from Anthony Volpe
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NFL Notes: Christian Wilkins Fallout, Raiders Training Camp Observations
After a busy and noteworthy week, players from the Las Vegas Raiders are vying for spots on the roster as training camp heats up. With the goal of improving from last year’s performance, head coach Pete Carroll is energizing and motivating the team. Currently, there are no pads, but many of those pads will be cracking on July 31. Before that date, it will be crucial for players to excel in seven-on-sevens and one-on-ones. Additionally, just in case you missed it, Christian Wilkins has been released. Jamal Adams was signed just before training camp and has been practicing with the linebackers. It was certainly an intriguing development, but you could argue that he fits with what Carroll is trying to implement—a player-coach at this point in his career. It is crucial to understand that the starting lineups will change before the preseason starts. Nonetheless, the lineups on day one are significant. The “Starters” on Day 1: Dont’e Thornton Jr. gets early praise There are not many humans who stand at six foot five and run 4.3 forty-yard dashes. He has been receiving most of the first-team reps during training camp. Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly believes he has been performing well. “He has a great skillset for someone that tall and that fast,” Kelly said. “It is comforting to Geno [Smith].” Nonetheless, Thornton Jr. is being placed in a position to be a focal point of this offense. After averaging 25.4 yards per reception in college, he will be the field stretcher for Las Vegas. Thayer Munford Jr. missed Day 1 of Raiders training camp For the purpose of maintaining unpredictability against opponents, injuries do not need to be disclosed. Thayer Munford Jr. missed the first day of training camp, but no details were reported. Additionally, the 2022 seventh-round draft pick is competing for a starting position on the offensive line. He needs to improve upon his 45.9 Pro Football Focus grade in 2024. Right now, only the offensive guard positions are up for grabs. Last season, he primarily played as an offensive tackle. On the second day of training camp, the former Ohio State Buckeye was back on the practice field. Can the 25-year-old offensive lineman win a starting job? Who has been performing in the first two days? Maxx Crosby has clearly been the standout player in practice. His relentless effort and tenacity have become a daily hallmark for this Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Tyree Wilson is also beginning to showcase his potential as a strong pass rusher. Meanwhile, the defensive backs have been actively making plays throughout practice. Isaiah Pola-Mao and Trey Taylor both caught interceptions on Thursday. These were the first turnovers of training camp. Taylor also broke up a pass on day one. Additionally, Sam Webb broke up a short route on Wednesday and almost caught an interception. Day one was an evenly matched practice, but the second day was won by the defense. On the first day, tight end Ian Thomas had the best highlight of the day with a one-handed touchdown snag. Overall, the defensive line has emerged as the strongest position group during these practices. July 31 is set to be a crucial day for evaluating the potential of this roster. In terms of roster changes, a significant development occurred on Thursday, leaving the defensive tackle position relatively thin. Maybe you heard? Fallout from Christian Wilkins’ release by the Raiders… The fact is, there was considerable hope from Raider Nation as Wilkins recovered from his foot injury. A healthy Wilkins in the middle would have created numerous opportunities for Crosby and Malcolm Koonce. However, the Raiders did not wait for the depth chart to become unmanageable; they chose to claim defensive tackle Keondre Coburn off waivers from the Tennessee Titans. Still, no one can replace Wilkins’ impact at this juncture with training camp in full swing. Wilkins and the Raiders will be back in the news, especially with the legal and ethical issues that will arise from this mess.
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