Florian Xhekaj Sparks Laval Rocket to 3-1 Win Over Toronto Marlies in North Division Semifinal Opener

Key facts

• Laval Rocket defeated Toronto Marlies 3-1 on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at Place Bell.
• Florian Xhekaj opened the scoring at 11:44 of the first period, intercepting a turnover by Michael Pezzetta.
• Kaapo Kähkönen made 20 saves, preserving a shutout until 5:49 remained in the third period.
• Joshua Roy scored his fifth career playoff goal at 6:15 of the third period, assisted by Sean Farrell.
• Samuel Blais sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 18:33 of the third period.
• Dennis Hildeby stopped 23 of 25 shots for the Marlies, who outshot Laval 24-23.
• Game 2 of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Friday, May 1, at Place Bell.

Laval Strikes First in Physical Series Opener

The Laval Rocket drew first blood in the North Division semifinals with a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday night at Place Bell, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. The game, marked by intense physicality and playoff intensity, saw the Montreal Canadiens' farm club capitalize on key defensive lapses by the Marlies to secure the win. The Rocket opened the scoring at 11:44 of the first period when Florian Xhekaj intercepted a poor pass from Michael Pezzetta below the goal line and beat Marlies goaltender Dennis Hildeby with a wrist shot. The goal came after Laval had successfully killed a 5-on-3 power play for 52 seconds, with Kähkönen making crucial saves to keep the game scoreless.

Kähkönen's Heroics and Key Saves Keep Marlies at Bay

Kaapo Kähkönen was a standout for Laval, making 20 saves and keeping the Marlies off the scoreboard until late in the third period. His performance included several key stops, including a glove save on Benoît-Olivier Groulx during the 5-on-3 and a pad save on a breakaway by Reese Johnson. The Finnish netminder also denied Vinni Lettieri and Marshall Rifai on high-danger chances in the final minutes of the second period. Despite Laval's early penalty trouble, Kähkönen's composure under pressure allowed the Rocket to maintain their lead. The Marlies generated numerous scoring opportunities but were repeatedly thwarted by the Laval goaltender, who finished with a.952 save percentage.

Marlies' Turnovers Prove Costly

The Marlies' undoing came from two defensive-zone turnovers that led directly to Laval goals. Michael Pezzetta's errant pass in the first period set up Xhekaj's opener, and Easton Cowan's failure to clear the puck along the boards in the third period resulted in Joshua Roy's goal at 6:15. Roy's shot, which may have deflected, found the roof of the net to give Laval a 2-0 lead. Toronto's head coach and players acknowledged the mistakes. "They capitalized on two or three of our mistakes and we [have to] live with it," said Bo Groulx, who had several scoring chances but was denied by Kähkönen. The Marlies outshot Laval 24-23 but could not overcome the turnovers.

Physical Play and Penalties Define the Contest

The game featured a high level of physicality from both sides, with Xhekaj delivering several shoulder hits and setting the tone for Laval. The Marlies matched the intensity early, but undisciplined penalties hampered their efforts. Marshall Rifai committed two minor penalties in the second period, putting Toronto on the penalty kill and disrupting their momentum. Laval's penalty kill was effective, killing off all three Marlies power plays, including a 5-on-3. The Rocket's discipline improved as the game progressed, allowing them to dictate play in the third period. The crowd at Place Bell was vocal, providing an energetic atmosphere that fueled Laval's performance.

Series Outlook and Next Steps

With the series now 1-0 in favor of Laval, Game 2 is scheduled for Friday, May 1, at Place Bell. The Rocket will look to build on their momentum and take a commanding lead, while the Marlies will aim to regroup and address the defensive lapses that cost them the opener. The Marlies, coming off a first-round series against the Rochester Americans, showed resilience by scoring late in the third period through Cédric Paré, whose shot deflected off a Laval player and over Kähkönen. However, they could not find an equalizer. Laval's Samuel Blais sealed the win with an empty-net goal with 1:27 remaining, stealing the puck at the Toronto blue line. Both teams will have a day off before reconvening for what promises to be another tightly contested matchup. The series is scheduled to continue with Game 3 in Toronto on Sunday, May 3, if necessary.

The bottom line

• Laval leads the North Division semifinal series 1-0 after a 3-1 win at Place Bell.
• Florian Xhekaj's first-period goal, created by a Marlies turnover, set the tone for the game.
• Kaapo Kähkönen's 20 saves, including key stops during a 5-on-3, were instrumental in the victory.
• The Marlies' defensive miscues by Michael Pezzetta and Easton Cowan directly led to Laval goals.
• Game 2 is Friday, May 1, at Place Bell; the series is best-of-five.