The Laval Rocket are on the brink of elimination to the Charlotte Checkers in the AHL Eastern Conference Finals. The series began with 5-1 and 5-2 losses at Place Bell, before the series transported itself to Charlotte. In the two home losses, the Rocket showed signs of frustration that ended with several misconducts and a depleted bench with a handful of players remaining by the end of the contest.
“The games have been emotional and we have to do a better job keeping our emotions in check,” Lucas Condotta said following game 2.
“It’s pretty frustrating to what we’re doing to ourselves. We’re not playing our best and we got to regroup and get back on track.”
On Sunday, the Checkers scored early and often as they headed to another 5-1 victory. The Rocket allowed the first goal in all three matches of the conference final.
“It’s the story of the series. During the season, when we lost momentum, we found ways to get out of it without allowing a goal or two quick goals. I give credit to Charlotte, in this series when we lose momentum, they make us pay by scoring important goals,” Pascal Vincent said.
The Rocket will attempt to avoid the sweep against the Florida Panthers affiliate on Tuesday.
Primeau Loses Net
The selection of the starting goaltender has been a polarizing topic. After a spectacular performance to clinch the series winner against the Rochester Americans, Cayden Primeau earned the opportunity to kick off the series against the Checkers. The result was not conclusive as Charlotte scored four times on 19 shots. Vincent continued with the veteran for the second contest 24 hours later. The Checkers lit him up with four goals on 18 shots, when Jacob Fowler came in relief after 35 minutes.
On Sunday, Vincent came back once again with Primeau and the outcome was not any different. Fowler took over the cage after Charlotte scored four times on 16 shots through 25 minutes.
“Everything he’s done for the team that people see and don’t see, he deserved this start. I know Fowler wants to play and we want him to play. At one point, the elevator has to come back to the individuals that do the good things, and give them the opportunity to bounce back. We gave him that chance,” the coach explained the decision. He confirmed Fowler as Tuesday’s starter.
Primeau did not get help from his teammates in front of him, however he was not part of the solution. He did not provide the timely saves needed in this series.
“It’s too easy to point fingers to 1-2 individuals. We scored one goal [on Sunday] on the power play and we didn’t score five-on-five. It’s more than the goalies,” the bench boss revealed. In the current series, Laval has scored two even strength goals and two on the power play.
Reinbacher Playing Good Hockey
David Reinbacher is one of several good stories in Laval this year. His season started late after suffering an injury during the preseason that required surgery on his left knee. He put on the skates for the first time for a game on February 19th against the Manitoba Moose. The protocol set by Canadiens doctors limited the defenceman to 10 regular season games. The constant pauses from playing between February and game 72 added a challenge for him to gain momentum. Despite the obstacle, Reinbacher finished with five points in 10 games, including regular assignments on the power play and penalty kill units.
The 20-year-old’s success has carried over to the post season, killing plays defensively, and transitioning the puck smoothly out of the defensive zone. Offensively, Reinbacher contributed six points in 12 games, without taking any unnecessary risks.
“To see how he reacts in games that there’s not a lot of room, in games that resemble those of the Florida Panthers playoff games. For those young players, we project on how they react in this league now and 4-5 years in the future, when he will be bigger, stronger, and more mature, with the skills he will acquire. I find it really exciting because he’s playing good hockey now,” Vincent said following game 2.
Mailloux on the Move?
On Thursday, the Athletic’s Chris Johnston published an NHL offseason trade board, listing Logan Mailloux as a potential trade candidate. Since the Canadiens plan to improve their forward group over the summer, they will likely include a young prospect in a transaction.
Vincent praised Mailloux for playing his best hockey of the year during the four-game series against the Cleveland Monsters. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old has struggled recently. His rough stretch began in game 4 against the Rochester Americans, which Mailloux described as his worst performance in two years. He bounced back with a solid game in the decisive contest versus the Buffalo Sabres affiliate.
In Thursday’s game, the 31st pick of the 2021 NHL entry draft stayed on the bench throughout the third period. It seemed like Vincent was sending him a message following a turnover in the offensive zone that led to a goal against, but the coach explained that an injury prevented Mailloux from jumping onto the ice.
The defenceman was in uniform on Sunday in a reduced effort. As Vincent shuffled the deck to assist the struggling power play, Mailloux’s responsibilities shifted from the first power play unit to the second.
Lions Lose Opener
The Trois-Rivieres Lions began the Kelly Cup final on Saturday against the Toledo Walleye. After a scoreless first period, Tyler Holland put the Canadiens affiliate on the board early in the second period. Back-to-back power plays allowed the St.Louis Blues affiliate to take the lead with a couple of power play goals. The Walleye added an empty net in the final moments to clinch the 3-1 win.
“We just finished a very physical matchup against the Florida Everblades and now we find ourselves facing a very skilled team with active defensemen in the offensive zone. I think we adapted well. The penalty kill is good, but we can be better. Everything they did, we were prepared for it. We lacked focus here and there, but other than that, I think we did well, especially coming off a tough series like the one against Florida. We’re in the mix. All that’s left is to take advantage of our opportunities while staying within our structure,” coach and general manager Ron Choules told Le Nouvelliste newspaper.
The series continues in Toledo on Monday night, before transitioning to Trois-Rivieres for three games at Colisee Videotron.
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