Shepard Stops 43 Shots in 3-2 Loss to Laval
The Belleville Senators wrapped up their three-game weekend with a close 3-2 loss to the Laval Rocket. Despite Hunter Shepard’s impressive 43 saves, the Senators couldn’t secure the win.
First Period
Laval came out strong, firing 23 shots in the opening frame. One of those early attempts found success when Nate Clurman set up Alex Belzile, whose shot deflected to Filip Mesar. Mesar netted his second goal of the season to give the Rocket a 1-0 lead.
Belleville responded quickly after their power play expired. Showing patience on the attack, Jake Chiasson created room for Lassi Thomson, who struck a one-timer past Laval goaltender Kaapo Kähkönen, tying the game 1-1.
Second Period
The Senators took advantage of an early power play. A hard point shot from Carter Yakemchuk and a clever pass from Xavier Bourgault set up Arthur Kaliyev, who scored for the second straight game to put Belleville ahead 2-1.
However, Laval answered when Marc Del Gaizo found Jared Davidson at the blue line. Davidson’s precise shot from distance slipped past Shepard, evening the score once again at 2-2.
Third Period
The final period remained deadlocked until the last five minutes, when Laval broke through to reclaim the lead and ultimately secure the 3-2 win.
"Despite a strong individual effort by Shepard, Belleville couldn’t hold off Laval’s late push."
Author’s Summary
The Senators battled hard but came up short as Laval’s persistence overcame Shepard’s stellar goaltending in a tight 3-2 matchup.