Laval – The equation is very simple. No need to press the calculator function on your cell phone, that’s what we’re here for. To hope to sneak into the playoffs, the Laval Rocket must win their last two games Of the season against the Belleville Senators, Friday and Saturday.
And cross your fingers.
With 74 points on his record, the Canadian’s little brother currently occupies sixth place in the North division, four points behind Belleville and the fifth level opening the door to the playoffs.
Thanks to their victory signed Wednesday at the expense of the Syracuse Crunch, the Senators forced the Rocket to beat them twice in regulation time. If they succeed, the Laval residents would then post the same collection of points as Belleville (78), but would be ahead of the Ontario club by virtue of the first tiebreaker which favors them, the gains in regulation time.
We would then have to hope that the Utica Comets do not achieve the improbable. With 73 points on the clock, the hopefuls of the New Jersey Devils have the opportunity to beat the Rocket at the finish line if they win in their last three outings of the campaign, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
” Three games in three evenings, it’s very hard to win, noted Rocket head coach Jean-François Houle earlier this week. If they win them, good for them, maybe they deserve it. But we don’t worry about the other teams, we only worry about ourselves. We just want to win our matches. »
“We don’t exactly have our fate in our hands, but we are still in control of the situation,” veteran Philippe Maillet put into perspective. It’s going to take two good games. »
Two excellent outings against an opponent they know well. Too much, some might say. Friday in Belleville, the Laval residents will face the Ottawa Senators farm club for the 11th and penultimate time of the season. Twelve clashes against the same team, that’s one match in six in a calendar which includes 72. That stirs up tensions, let’s say…
“There are a lot of things that we don’t see on TV, beatings… We don’t like each other, that’s for sure,” confirms Maillet. And at the end of the week, we are both fighting for the same thing: a place in the playoffs. It’s going to be some pretty intense hockey. »
“They were good games,” replied Houle, weighing his words, when asked if he was tired of having the Senators in his legs. “Of course, for an instructor, it’s often the same team, but for the fans, it’s intense matches, it’s a rivalry. »
The rivalry is intense between the Rocket players and the Senators.
The Rocket has the advantage so far in this one this season, posting a 6-4 record against its Ontario rival. Three times this year the two teams have faced each other twice in less than 24 hours. The Rocket signed two consecutive victories in two of these sequences, sharing the honors in the third.
“We’re focusing on Friday because if we don’t win, it wouldn’t be worth anything on Saturday,” recalls Maillet, who, like his teammates and his coach, dreams of rewarding Rocket fans with a meaningful final match at Place Bell on Saturday.
“The times that the building The loudest is when we play against Belleville. These are matches that are intense and toughs. You’re burned after the gamesbut it is those who are the most fun to play. »
Reinforcements are arriving
At the time of writing these lines, a few questions remain unanswered regarding the trios that Houle will send Friday to the CAA Arena ice rink.
Respectively injured in the lower and upper body, center players Brandon Gignac and Mitchel Stephens did not train with the team for a second day in a row on Wednesday and their participation in the first duel remains uncertain. Gignac would thus miss a fourth game in a row and Stephens a second.
“On the left side, the best for faceoffs is Gignac, then on the other side it’s Stephens. It leaves a gap for faceoffs. These are two players who contribute enormously in numerical advantage and disadvantage. It makes a hole, but heille, next man up. That’s what the American League is all about, let the next guy take the pole. »
The offensive reinforcements must in fact mainly come from within. Only Joshua Roy, who has recovered from his right hand injury, will be added to the lineup. Having received the green light from doctors to return to play, the Quebecer practiced with the Rocket on Wednesday a few hours before being officially transferred to the American League by the CH.
Luke Tuch and Florian Xhekaj, two prospects recently signed by the Canadian, offer options to Houle to replace Jacob Perreault, whose season is over.
On the blue line, Logan Mailloux, Jayden Struble and Justin Barron were also made available to the Rocket.
For their part, the Ottawa Senators loaned forwards Zack Ostapchuk and Jiri Smejkal to their farm club on Wednesday for the weekend’s crucial games. At the start of the week, center Matthew Highmore was demoted to the B-Sens.
The last battle is therefore approaching, and it will be significant. A more than happy outcome for a young Rocket who only claimed five victories after the first 22 matches of the calendar, it should be remembered.
“If we had been told after 15 games that by winning our last two we would make the playoffsI think everyone would have been happy with our return,” notes Maillet.
“There, we have to make the series. But after that, I wouldn’t be surprised if we went far. »
