Walsh, Pastujov and Berard spark Rocket in weekend rebound win

Less than 24 hours after being blanked in their season opener, the Laval Rocket offered a very different performance at Place Bell on Saturday night. New additions Reilly Walsh, Sasha Pastujov and Brett Berard all found the back of the net in a 6-1 win over the Crunch, providing the Montreal Canadiens’ farm team with its first goals of the new AHL campaign.

Walsh ends drought with Rocket’s first goal of season

Defenceman Reilly Walsh, who left the KHL in the off-season to sign with the Canadiens, opened the scoring and finally broke Laval’s early-season drought. The 27-year-old veteran of the American Hockey League beat the Crunch goalie with a precise wrist shot, unlocking the Rocket attack and igniting one of the league’s most vocal crowds.

Walsh is no stranger to the atmosphere in Laval, having visited Place Bell in past playoff runs with other teams. This time, he was able to experience that environment on the home side, a key milestone for a player who chose the organization in part for its strong reputation at the AHL level.

Pastujov and Berard strike in first outings with Laval

Not long after Walsh’s opener, fellow newcomer Sasha Pastujov scored his first goal in a Rocket sweater, then added to his totals on the scoresheet. The American forward, acquired in an off-season trade that sent Sean Farrell to the San Diego Gulls, finished the 6-1 win with three points and quickly showed why Laval targeted him.

Pastujov had never faced the Rocket before joining the organization but has already noted the culture in the room and the way players are treated. He highlighted that the group is handled like professionals, something he sees as part of a long-term project being built over the last several seasons.

Brett Berard also scored his first goal with Laval. The energetic forward arrived from the Hartford Wolf Pack in a trade involving defenceman William Trudeau and has been handed significant responsibility right away. Head coach Daniel Jacob has used him in the top six, banking on both his skill and his relentless style to fit Laval’s identity.

Jacob evaluates new core before four-game road swing

For Jacob, this opening weekend offered a first real look at a roster that includes roughly ten newcomers. He admitted he did not have much information on several of them before camp, but the two-game set helped clarify how they can contribute. The coach stressed that he wants players to lean into their offensive and defensive strengths without stepping away from the team structure that has defined the Rocket in recent years.

With the home crowd already embracing the new faces, the next test will come away from Laval. The Rocket now leave for a four-game road trip, beginning with a matchup against the Springfield Thunderbirds next Saturday, a first opportunity to prove that this convincing win was more than just a one-night response.