Laval Rocket: Game #70 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Laval Wins 4-0)

[Adam Michaels]

Note: This game will be streamed on RDS' website and won't be on TV.




NEWS
- RHP, Ylonen, Primeau & Schueneman were sent down from Montreal



​

The fight to hold onto a playoff spot continues. And it will continue all week as Laval head into the last 3 regular season games. With a win against Syracuse on Saturday combined with a Cleveland regulation loss to Belleville, Laval reclaimed the 5th and final playoff spot. Cleveland have a game in hand.

Cleveland plays Grand Rapids tonight (non-divisional rival), so a Laval win + another regulation loss for Cleveland can help give Rocket some separation, but they would not be out of the woods yet. These are the only games in the AHL tonight.

Getting RHP & Ylonen back is huge. For those upset they didn't send them down sooner (particularly for the game on Friday vs. Cleveland), there are rules in the NHL for the minimum amount of players you dress per game and how many you have on your NHL roster on non-game days. And for the Habs to respect those rules, they had no choice but to keep RHP & Ylonen up.

For the Penguins, they got Alex Nylander yesterday as the NHL club sent him down to the AHL.

​

Click to read more...

 

[Michelangelo]

Makes me wonder what they already have showing on RDS and RDS2 that could be more important than showing the Rocket's playoff race

 

[Adam Michaels]

Makes me wonder what they already have showing on RDS and RDS2 that could be more important than showing the Rocket's playoff race

RDS: NHL hockey - Sens vs. Canes
RDS2: Women's international hockey: Canada vs. USA

 

[Adam Michaels]

Looks like Yaremko, Mysak & McKay will be scratched tonight as they're skating with blue jerseys. Marcotte also mentions Parker-Jones & Fairbrother also skating with blue jerseys. But we know Fairbrother won't play this year and Parker-Jones is an extra.

It is good to see Fairbrother practicing with the team.

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[WeThreeKings]

Weird to scratch Mysak considering how he's played the last few games. Houle gonna Houle regarding Mysak.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Sam Poulin will play tonight. He made his return this past weekend after stepping away for mental health reasons.



Pickering will be in the line-up for Penguins. He joined the AHL team after his WHL season came to an end. Tonight will be his 6th game.

 

[Rapala]

Weird to scratch Mysak considering how he's played the last few games. Houle gonna Houle regarding Mysak.

His line combos seem a bit weird too.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Weird to scratch Mysak considering how he's played the last few games. Houle gonna Houle regarding Mysak.

I'd have Mysak centering the 4th line before I would Martel.

 

[Rapala]

I would definitely play RHP with Heineman.
I would leave Dube with Stephens they've had some chemistry in recent games
A Condotta Simoneau Ylonen could exploit a 3rd line matchup.

 

[Walrus26]

Are Laval realistically out of the race or is there still something riding on this game?

 

[Adam Michaels]

Are Laval realistically out of the race or is there still something riding on this game?

They are not out of the race. They're in a playoff spot at this very moment. But the race for that final playoff spot is really tight. Mainly between Laval and Cleveland. But Belleville is still not out of it, either.

 

[Walrus26]

They are not out of the race. They're in a playoff spot at this very moment. But the race for that final playoff spot is really tight. Mainly between Laval and Cleveland. But Belleville is still not out of it, either.

Thanks Adam, I thought their recent loss to Cleveland might have been a killer. Glad to be wrong and hoping RHP and Ylonen can help get them over the line.

 

[jrom]

 

[Adam Michaels]

Thanks Adam, I thought their recent loss to Cleveland might have been a killer. Glad to be wrong and hoping RHP and Ylonen can help get them over the line.

That was probably the worst game to lose in the situation they're in because after that game, Cleveland moved ahead of Laval and into the final playoff spot. But the next night, Laval beat Syracuse and Cleveland lost in regulation to Belleville, so Laval moved back ahead of them and into that final playoff spot.

Belleville is also hanging around. They're in last place of the division, but they're 2 pts behind, so they are also very much in this.

Laval & Belleville have 3 games left, Cleveland has 4.

 

[Naslundforever]

That line-up would give what’s left of the nhl roster a tough fight with centermen and the goalie probably being too weak. Matheson and Suzuki would be the best players on the ice but the wings look good.

 

[Walrus26]

That was probably the worst game to lose in the situation they're in because after that game, Cleveland moved ahead of Laval and into the final playoff spot. But the next night, Laval beat Syracuse and Cleveland lost in regulation to Belleville, so Laval moved back ahead of them and into that final playoff spot.

Belleville is also hanging around. They're in last place of the division, but they're 2 pts behind, so they are also very much in this.

Laval & Belleville have 3 games left, Cleveland has 4.

Anyone but Belleville Senajinx.

 

[Adam Michaels]

The good news is that Laval hold the tiebreaker on both Cleveland and Belleville if they all end up tied in points at the end of the regular season. They have more RW's and ROW's, which are the two first tiebreakers.

So the only way those teams can surpass Laval is if they get more points, which is still very much in the realm of possibility.

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[Adam Michaels]

Marcotte saying he hasn't seen a D-corps with so little experience play against Laval. The Penguins defensemen have played a total of 307 pro games (both NHL and AHL). Meanwhile Laval's D-corps has played a total of 722 games, with Struble only playing 6.

 

[RandomTask26]

The good news is that Laval hold the tiebreaker on both Cleveland and Belleville if they all end up tied in points at the end of the regular season. They have more RW's and ROW's, which are the two first tiebreakers.

So the only way those teams can surpass Laval is if they get more points, which is still very much in the realm of possibility.

If Laval wins out (all 3 games at home with a day in between), then Cleveland needs to win out, which includes 3 games on consecutive nights next weekend. That’s not easy to do. I think the timing of RHP and Ylonen’s arrivals is perfect

 

[Adam Michaels]

If Laval wins out (all 3 games at home with a day in between), then Cleveland needs to win out, which includes 3 games on consecutive nights next weekend. That’s not easy to do. I think the timing of RHP and Ylonen’s arrivals is perfect

Both Belleville and Cleveland finish their seasons on a 3-in-3 this Friday, Saturday & Sunday. And it's not easy winning all 3 games in a 3-in-3. All 3 of their games are on the road and includes travel.

Cleveland plays in Utica on Friday, then travel to Rochester, where they play the Amerks on Saturday and Sunday. And the thing is that each game is in less than 24 hours than the previous one. They play in Utica @ 7PM Friday. Travel to Rochester, where they play @ 5PM. And then Sunday, they play Rochester again, but @ 3PM ET.

Belleville plays in Rochester on Friday. Then travel to Toronto to play the Marlies on Saturday and Sunday. The game between Friday and Saturday (which includes travel) is in less than 24 hours. They play Amerks on Friday @ 7PM. Then play Marlies on Saturday @ 4PM. But their Sunday game is @ 4PM also.

So two things work in Laval's favor. The schedule and not having to travel.

They need to take advantage of this.

 

[26Mats]

Marcotte saying he hasn't seen a D-corps with so little experience play against Laval. The Penguins defensemen have played a total of 307 pro games (both NHL and AHL). Meanwhile Laval's D-corps has played a total of 722 games, with Struble only playing 6.

Do you think this dcore has enough AHL experience to be a thing next year?

Struble Norlinder
Trudeau Mailloux
Fairbrother Beaudin

 

[Treb]

Do you think this dcore has enough AHL experience to be a thing next year?

Struble Norlinder
Trudeau Mailloux
Fairbrother Beaudin

Pretty sure they will add/keep at least 1 or 2 vet D (plus depth like Dello/Galipeau). Even if you have to rotate 8 D to start the year, we're going to have trades/injuries eventually.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Is it free on RDS, or do you have to have RDS and sign in to view it ?