Laval Rocket Have Sights Firmly Set On AHL Championship

While the Montreal Canadiens attempt to stave off elimination, their AHL affiliate will finally begin their quest for the Calder Cup.

The second-round series between the Laval Rocket and Cleveland Monsters gets underway on Wednesday night, though it will be Laval’s first taste of playoff action, while the Monsters have already played a best-of-three series versus the Toronto Marlies.

The AHL playoffs are a little different from the NHL, in that the top team from every division gets a bye into the second round. Seeing as the Rocket finished the season as the top team in the league, they will maintain home-ice advantage throughout the entirety of the playoffs. It’s also worth noting their 48-19-0-5 record was far and away their best results since the team moved to Laval.

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With that in mind, don’t be shocked that the first game of the series will take place in Cleveland. The Monsters will host the first two games of the series, while the Rocket will serve as the home team for the final three meetings.

Laval Rocket Lineup

A very important player is returning to the Rocket lineup just in time for the playoffs. Brandon Gignac hasn’t played a game since late December, however, the talented forward will be in uniform for Game 1.

Cayden Primeau is in the NHL due to Samuel Montembeault’s injury, which means former NCAA netminder Jacob Fowler will serve as the team’s starter. Fowler maintained a 2-1 record in his three career AHL starts, coupled with an encouraging .917 save percentage.

Fortunately, Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent has done a great job inspiring his troops this season, and they’ve found a way to win regardless of who is in the lineup, a significant boon for any AHL affiliate.

Sean Farrell will continue to play on the top line, alongside Laurent Dauphin and Alex Barre-Boulet, a situation that has led to a significant uptick in scoring from the 23-year-old winger. Gignac is expected to lineup with Owen Beck and Joshua Roy on the second line.

All things considered, the Rocket have talent at every position, however, their excellent depth may be their greatest strength.

For example, few teams can handle Canadiens prospects Jared Davidson and Florian Xhekaj, the rough-and-tumble duo that hasn’t just driven opponents up a wall, they’ve also done their fair share of scoring. Davidson finished third in Rocket scoring this season, with 24 goals and 21 assists, while rookie Florian Xhekaj had an exceptional professional debut, to the tune of 24 goals and 11 assists. They both did so while mostly playing on the third and fourth line.

On the defensive side of the coin, Adam Engstrom and David Reinbacher could serve as the top pairing, a great test for two young, talented defensive who have the potential to one day make an impact on the Canadiens lineup.

According to Anthony Marcotte, an expert in all things Laval Rocket, here’s what the team’s lineup could look like for Game 1.

Ça pourrait ressembler à ça demain soir pour le Rocket:

Farrell – Dauphin – Barré-Boulet
Gignac – Beck -Roy
Harvey-Pinard – Condotta – Simoneau
Davidson – Xhekaj – Tuch

Extras: Mesar – Kidney

Engström – Reinbacher
Trudeau – Mailloux
Wotherspoon – Lindström

Extras: Hayes -…

— Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) April 29, 2025

How to Watch the Laval Rocket versus the Cleveland Monsters, Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Game 1 of the Rocket – Monsters series will be aired on RDS as well as AHL TV.