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Springfield Today
By the People, for the People
Laval Rocket Stifle Springfield Thunderbirds with Stingy Defense
Thunderbirds struggle to generate offense in 4-1 loss to Rocket at Place Bell
Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:20am
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The Springfield Thunderbirds were unable to solve the stout defense of the Laval Rocket, falling 4-1 on Friday night at Place Bell. The Thunderbirds took an early 1-0 lead but the Rocket responded with four unanswered goals, including a pair from Owen Beck, to hand Springfield their second straight loss.
Why it matters
The loss drops the Thunderbirds further out of playoff position in the AHL's Eastern Conference, while the Rocket solidify their standing as one of the top teams in the league. The game highlighted the defensive prowess of the Rocket, who were able to limit the Thunderbirds' scoring chances throughout the night.
The details
The Thunderbirds struck first when Hunter Skinner scored at 11:11 of the opening period, but the Rocket responded late in the frame with a power-play goal from Sammy Blais to tie it 1-1. In the second period, Jared Davidson and Filip Mesar scored for Laval to give them a 3-1 lead. The Rocket’s stifling penalty kill held the Thunderbirds at bay in the third period, with Florian Xhekaj adding an empty-net goal to seal the victory.
- The game was played on Friday, March 21, 2026 inside Place Bell in Laval, Quebec.
- The Thunderbirds struck first with a goal by Hunter Skinner at 11:11 of the opening period.
- Sammy Blais scored the tying goal for the Rocket late in the first period at 19:04.
- Jared Davidson and Filip Mesar scored in the second and third periods to give the Rocket a 3-1 lead.
- Florian Xhekaj added an empty-net goal late in the third period to make the final score 4-1 Laval.
The players
Vadim Zherenko
The goaltender for the Springfield Thunderbirds.
Kaapo Kahkonen
The goaltender for the Laval Rocket.
Kale Kessy
A forward for the Laval Rocket who was involved in an exciting scrap with Vincent Arseneau in the first period.
Owen Beck
A forward for the Laval Rocket who recorded two assists in the game.
Sammy Blais
A forward for the Laval Rocket who scored the tying goal in the first period.
What they’re saying
“We must find a way to generate more offense against teams with strong defensive systems like Laval. Our inability to create scoring chances hurt us tonight.”
— Hunter Skinner, Forward, Springfield Thunderbirds
What’s next
The Thunderbirds will look to bounce back on Saturday night when they face the Belleville Senators at CAA Arena.
The takeaway
This game highlighted the importance of defensive structure and discipline in the AHL, as the Laval Rocket were able to stifle the Thunderbirds’ offense through their stingy play in their own end. Springfield will need to find ways to create more scoring opportunities against elite defensive teams if they hope to climb back into playoff position.
