Rocket Winning Streak Snapped With Shootout Loss

Both teams played a rare Monday afternoon game as part of the AHL’s School Day promotional game that nearly every team has each season. The Rocket struggled to find anything going for them for the first 2 periods of the game, as they were down 2-0 after 40 minutes, before the floodgates finally opened early in the 3rd period for them to make their comeback. They were outshot 30-22 in the game as the home team Marlies were the better team on the day.

Netminder Jacob Fowler allowed 3+ goals for just the 2nd time in his last 7 starts; the Marlies did give him his toughest test in a while. However, Fowler played a great game nonetheless, stopping 26 of the 29 shots, making big saves in regulation and overtime to help force a shootout. On top of that, there was a controversial goal that Fowler allowed early in the 2nd period after he lost his goalie mask from getting run over. Despite the rule being that the play must stop once the mask comes off, the refs allowed it, and the Rocket went down 2-0. Despite the loss and the controversial goal, Fowler did everything he could to keep his team in the game for them to be able to make a comeback in the 3rd period.

There was no scoring at all in the opening frame as both Fowler and Marlies goaltender Dennis Hildeby stood tall to keep the teams off the board. It was the Marlies who had the 9-7 shot advantage, but there was nothing notable from the opening frame.

It was the 2nd period where things started to pick up as the Marlies would score 42 seconds into the frame to open the scoring. It was Benoit-Oliver Groulx who beat Fowler clean from the left faceoff circle on the rush who gave the Marlies the lead. It looked like a play that Fowler would want back, as it seems like the puck went through his body despite him looking as if he was in the right position for the save.

Then just 17 seconds later, Fowler would get run over by a Marlies forward as he drove to the net, taking the Rocket goaltender out of position, which allowed the Marlies captain Logan Shaw to put the puck in the net. Despite there being clear goaltender interference on top of Fowler losing his mask, the goal would stand and the Marlies would go up 2-0. Fowler was furious about the call, which was no surprise to anyone, as the Rocket clearly got screwed over on the play.

Before both goals, Florian Xhekaj also dropped the gloves with Marlies forward Marc Johnstone to bring action after a scoreless 1st period. Xhekaj got the best of the Marlies forward, but both guys threw heavy punches and made for a good fight.

The Rocket still couldn’t solve Hildeby in the 2nd period as he stopped all 13 shots he faced up until that point, but things were about to change in the Rocket’s favour during the 3rd period. It seems like over the last few games, the Rockets seem to be scoring in bunches, but it can take a while to get on the board.

The same thing happened on Monday when the Rocket got one back just 49 seconds into the 3rd period. It was Xhekaj’s 10th goal of the season, which went unassisted and brought the Rocket back into the game. Xhekaj would score with a seeing-eye shot towards the net that beat Hildeby through traffic.

Following Xhekaj’s goal was another marker later in the period by forward Vincent Arseneau, who intercepted a pass in front of the net, where he was left all alone to be able to put the puck in the net and tie the game at 2. Arseneau was just at the right place at the right time to make the play happen and get his 4th of the season.

Defenseman David Reinbacher would find Alex Belzile for a tip-in goal at the side of the net just 38 seconds after Arseneau’s marker to give the Rocket their only lead of the night. Belzile continues to stay hot as he now has 4 goals in his last 4 games as he’s chasing down Chris Terry’s franchise record of 32 goals in a season. Belzile is currently on pace to score 34 goals and become the Rocket’s single-season record holder.

Unfortunately, the Rocket couldn’t hold onto the lead, and they would give up a power play goal with just 1:42 left in regulation that forced overtime. The goal would be scored by Cedric Pare on a one-timer to prevent the Rocket from stealing 2 points yet again.

The Rocket had the two best opportunities to get the win in 3-on-3 overtime, but Hildeby kept the puck out of his net, and it meant a shootout was coming.

In the shootout, it took the 4th shooter, Marlies forward Alex Nylander, to get the game-winner by beating Fowler with a forehand-backhand deke. Jared Davidson then went up to try to tie the shootout but wasn’t able to do so.

With that being said, despite controversy playing a factor in the loss (the Marlies’ 2nd goal), the Rocket are now back to square one as their 6-game winning streak is officially over. It was great while it lasted, and they are definitely among the top AHL teams in the league, so they should get back to winning sooner than later. Their next game is in Rochester, where they will take on the Americans at 7:00 pm ET on Friday night.

Do you think the refs stole this game from the Rockets on Monday afternoon?