Connect with us

Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens AHL Affiliate Laval Rocket In Tight Playoff Race

Published

on

Montreal Canadiens laval rocket

The playoff race in the AHL is heating up for the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket.

As it stands, the Rocket are just two points out of a playoff spot and a chance to compete for the Calder Cup.

However, the odds are not in their favour.

The team they’re trying to catch, the Cleveland Monsters, has struggled at times this season, but it’s also worth noting Cleveland has two games in hand.

Canadiens AHL affiliate Laval Rocket

Laval’s season could be considered a disappointment if you view it purely from their position in the standings, but it must be said they have been plundered more often than an English coastline community in the 9th century.

The unfortunate streak of terrible injury luck meant that the Rocket lost their best players when they needed them most. Instead of having established players familiar with the team’s strategies in the lineup, they were counting up on ECHL call-ups and free-agent signings.

Given the players that joined the Canadiens in the NHL, players like Rafael Harvey-Pinard, Justin Barron, Anthony Richard, Jesse Ylonen and Alex Belzile, immediately made an impact, you’d be hard-pressed to argue Rocket Jean-Francois Houle failed to meet expectations.

MUST READ: Canadiens AHL Call-Ups Shining Bright For Canadiens

More than anything, he managed to keep his team above water while missing his most important elements.

If the Rocket hope to beat the odds and qualify for the playoffs, they’ll rely heavily upon goaltender Cayden Primeau, who has enjoyed a resurgence in recent weeks, as well as Joel Teasdale, who has become their most sustainable source of offence following a difficult start to the season.

The Rocket and the Monsters will meet on April 7, a game that may end up deciding both teams’ playoff fates.

The Rules

In total, 23 teams will qualify for the playoffs.

Via TheAHL.com:

The playoff field will include the top six finishers in the eight-team Atlantic Division, the top five finishers each in the seven-team North and Central Divisions, and the top seven teams in the 10-team Pacific Division. First Round match-ups will be best-of-three series; the two highest seeds in the Atlantic, the three highest seeds in each of the North and Central, and the first-place team in the Pacific will receive byes into the best-of-five Division Semifinals, with the First Round winners re-seeded in each division. The Division Finals will also be best-of-five series, followed by best-of-seven Conference Finals and a best-of-seven Calder Cup Finals series.