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Rocket: Logan Mailloux didn’t play in the third, but he did better than the referees
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Rocket: Logan Mailloux didn’t play in the third, but he did better than the referees
Credit: Last night, the Laval Rocket played their second game of the AHL Eastern Finals. And let’s just say it didn’t go well. Cayden Primeau was pulled after giving up four goals. The club was unable to settle in the offensive zone. There was no rhythm to the game. And the club lost 5-2, leaving them […]
Last night, the Laval Rocket played their second game of the AHL Eastern Finals. And let’s just say it didn’t go well.

Cayden Primeau was pulled after giving up four goals. The club was unable to settle in the offensive zone. There was no rhythm to the game.

And the club lost 5-2, leaving them trailing 0-2 in their series, which will travel to the U.S. for the next three games – barring a Checkers sweep, of course.

Those who watched the game will know that the refereeing left a lot to be desired.

Mind you, I’m not saying the Rocket lost because of the referees. After all, Pascal Vincent’s men simply weren’t up to the task during the match.

It’s unacceptable to play that way. – Rafaël Harvey-Pinard

But I’ve rarely seen a refereeing body handle a match so badly. The Rocket’s 68 penalty minutes (and the opponent’s 48) show that, in the end, the referees were handing out penalties like candy.

Things got heated right from the warm-up, and the referees quickly lost control.

But clearly, the Checkers could do whatever they wanted on the ice. Often, Laval players were the victims of dirty hits and nobody moved on the ice.

There’s a reason why the “ref you suck” chant was so loud in the arena (I’ve rarely heard it so loud in an AHL arena) and why fans often threw objects onto the ice.

There was no control at the end.

Xavier Simoneau is a good example. Why does he get pushed on the goalie, get a stick in the face… and the Rocket find themselves shorthanded anyway?

That puts the Rocket in trouble right now. The next game (with Jacob Fowler in net or not?) will be a tough one on the road due to injuries.

Case in point?

In addition to the guys already banged up, Laurent Dauphin was injured even more yesterday. He was tackled hard (the game went on even though he was tackled so hard he left the game).

What’s more, according to the coach, Logan Mailloux didn’t play in the third because of injury. He was still on the bench.

Note that at one point, during a commercial break, he went to stretch his legs before retreating to the dressing room. Did he realize he was injured or was he sent off?

The way the match unfolded, the question arises. After all, the referees had lost control and had a worse game than Mailloux, a guy who couldn’t finish the game due to injury.


overtime

– From what we understand, there are a lot of injuries in this locker room right now.

– If you’re looking for good news, here’s some: apart from his mistake on the Checkers’ last goal, David Reinbacher looked like a veteran on the ice as he played so well. He also showed he’s got a good shot…

– Don’t shoot the messenger.

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