The Laval Rocket demonstrated their resilience and fighting spirit on Tuesday night, overcoming a tough start against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to earn a thrilling 4-3 overtime victory at Place Bell.

After a disappointing loss to the Cleveland Monsters over the weekend, Laval was eager to continue their strong start to 2025, having collected points in all of their first four games. However, they faced a daunting opponent in the Penguins, who had previously handed them a significant defeat back in December.

Despite limited lineup changes, head coach Pascal Vincent opted to bring Sean Farrell into the lineup, replacing Vincent Arseneau. The team's defensive pairings remained stable with William Trudeau and Logan Mailloux leading, while Cayden Primeau looked to extend his unbeaten streak to 3-0-0.

The game got off to a rocky start for Laval as they quickly found themselves down a player after Xavier Simoneau took a puck to the face. Despite the initial setback, the Rocket generated several scoring chances, with both Farrell and Lucas Condotta narrowly missing the target in the early minutes.

Unfortunately for Laval, it was the Penguins who capitalized first. A defensive mishap led to Rutger McGroarty setting up Avery Hayes for the opening goal, sliding the puck past Primeau. Things took a turn for the worse as Dan Renouf's penalty put the Rocket on the back foot and allowed Jonathan Gruden to score another short-handed goal, widening the gap to a 2-0 lead for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The first period ended with Laval struggling to find their footing, trailing by two goals. The second period saw an unexpected goaltending swap for the Penguins, with Jaxon Castor taking the ice. Laval's attempts to rally were thwarted as they faced a barrage of missed opportunities and strong Penguin defense.

The turning point came late in the second period, when Laval's persistent attack finally paid off. After gaining a power play due to a hooking penalty against the Penguins, the Rocket managed to apply pressure, but still struggled to break through Castor’s defenses.

As the Rocket entered the third period, they were handed a golden opportunity with a power play that started as soon as the final period began. Despite having two extra attackers, Laval found it difficult to convert chances into goals, leaving fans growing increasingly anxious.

Then a crucial moment came when Emil Bemstrom scored for the Penguins, expanding their lead to 3-0. However, Laval refused to give up. With fierce determination, Filip Mešár assisted Trudeau, who launched a sharp shot into the net, finally putting the Rocket on the scoreboard.

As the momentum shifted, Laval's fourth line stepped up, pushing harder than ever. Jared Davidson's hustle created another scoring opportunity leading to Luke Tuch's decisive setup for Florian Xhekaj to score, pulling the Rocket within one goal, igniting hopes of a comeback.

With the clock winding down, the Rocket capitalized on a power play opportunity that resulted from Mac Hollowell's high-sticking infraction, grabbing their chance to tie the game. In a spectacular display of teamwork, Trudeau connected with Gustav Lindström, who delivered a powerful one-timer that found the back of the net, completing the comeback and sending the game into overtime.

The thrilling extra frame saw Laval fighting for victory, and just when it seemed they might squander their opportunity, Jared Davidson seized a loose puck, scoring to cap off an exciting 4-3 come-from-behind win for the Rocket.

With this emotional victory, Laval moved to the top of the North Division, now tied with 47 points. They next prepare to face off against the struggling Utica Comets, aiming to extend their winning streak and solidify their position in the playoff race. Fans can’t wait to see what’s next for this relentless team that proves time and again: Never count out the Rocket!