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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 8, 2023 7:44:53 GMT -5
The bright spot on this sad sack game was Heineman keeping his scoring run going with his 7th off a tip from the point. Struble records his first AHL point on the play too!
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Post by jkr on Apr 8, 2023 10:00:42 GMT -5
There's something about Heineman that reminds me of Marian Hossa, stylistically. His upside is obviously a completely different conversation... but when I look at his skating, shot and the work that he puts into getting open, I can't help but think of Hossa. And here's where I have to remind myself that Marcel Hossa was also stylistically similar to his big brother Marian... just so that I don't get my hopes up on Heineman. Lol... unfortunately Marcel was not a gifted as Marian... Marian grew into a hard to handle beast Marian Hossa was another one of those near misses but the blame here falls on Rejean Houle & company. He was available to the Habs when their pick came up in the 97 draft but the Habs thought Jason Ward was the better bet.  |
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Post by Lord Bebop on Apr 8, 2023 12:31:48 GMT -5
Laval laid an egg in the third. Penalties and sloppy play hurt. They also got a rather unfavourable call. Primeau was run over. Scrum ensues. Laval gets the only penalty. 5 on 3 leads to the tying goal. Houle is livid on the bench. The Rocket are definitely behind the eight ball in the charge for the last playoff spot in their division now. Every game is a must win and they likely need some help too with some Cleveland losses. Never say never boys! Special teams hurt them big time in this one. Crunch got a lot of momentum off their power play. Rocket can’t kill penalties. Been their huge Achilles heal all season long. They are young so hopefully they get better next season. Primeau had a bad game. Easy to get down on the goalie but it was a team effort loss in a game they had well in hand. I try not to blame the refs to much as it’s the AHL and they are learning and you can’t expect they same quality as the NHL, much like the players. Some fans might not believe it as NHL officials make their fair share of mistakes but there is definitely a downgrade in AHL Refereeing |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 8, 2023 20:35:23 GMT -5
Huge 5-3 win over Syracuse with backup Poulin between the pipes. Cleveland lost too. The Rocket are one point up, but Cleveland has a game at hand.
Trudeau with a 1+1 night and Heineman gets an assist to keep his points streak going.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 8, 2023 21:01:19 GMT -5
Just sayin’…teams in baby blue unis should lose.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 9, 2023 11:52:54 GMT -5
A boost to the Laval lineup for their last three games next week. Not sure if Ylönen and RHP bounce up and down or if this is Laval or bust for them now. Depends on who is healthy up front with the Habs. We will see on Wednesday when both teams play that night.
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Post by Lord Bebop on Apr 9, 2023 14:45:41 GMT -5
A boost to the Laval lineup for their last three games next week. Not sure if Ylönen and RHP bounce up and down or if this is Laval or bust for them now. Depends on who is healthy up front with the Habs. We will see on Wednesday when both teams play that night. Habs need to keep 18 healthy skaters on roster at all times so I think a couple of players are coming back from injury. And likely means Ylonen and RHP stay down |
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Post by seventeen on Apr 9, 2023 16:20:22 GMT -5
I hope this helps the Rocket. It's certainly an injection of talent.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 10, 2023 21:00:11 GMT -5
Huge win by Laval over baby Pens 4-0. Primeau with the shutout. RHP and Ylönen scored the first two goals!
Boom!
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 10, 2023 22:10:09 GMT -5
Primeau definitely had a game!
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Post by Willie Dog on Apr 11, 2023 9:15:19 GMT -5
Huge win by Laval over baby Pens 4-0. Primeau with the shutout. RHP and Ylönen scored the first two goals! Boom! Can they call up the powerplay guy from Laval and send Burrows down |
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Post by seventeen on Apr 11, 2023 11:21:17 GMT -5
Send Burrows back to Vancouver.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 12, 2023 8:53:49 GMT -5
Some more minor injuries. They just can’t help themselves.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 12, 2023 22:48:33 GMT -5
A huge 6-3 win over the Marlies tonight. The Rocket edge closer with one game left to play (Cleveland and Belleville are both chasing and have three games left each). It will come down to this weekend’s games all around.
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Post by Willie Dog on Apr 13, 2023 8:28:51 GMT -5
A huge 6-3 win over the Marlies tonight. The Rocket edge closer with one game left to play (Cleveland and Belleville are both chasing and have three games left each). It will come down to this weekend’s games all around. Must be nice for RHP to win rather than whats going on with the big club. |
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Post by seventeen on Apr 13, 2023 12:43:31 GMT -5
Is Laval in the last playoff spot at #5 in the North division? If so, Cleveland is the only team that can catch them and they have to win all 3 games (assuming Laval wins their last one vs Syracuse, who are a decent team). The guys should be pumped for that one.
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 14, 2023 9:48:24 GMT -5
Laval can clinch tonight if they win and Cleveland loses. Cleveland has two games in hand, but they play them Saturday night and Sunday afternoon with travel. Tough schedule to win all three, but Laval just needs to focus on its last game tonight.
Of course, Condotta, Teasdale and Allard were all returned to the team, so they have a full complement of guys available.
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Post by Willie Dog on Apr 14, 2023 20:24:39 GMT -5
Utica beat Cleveland... let's go Rocket
Edit: Rocket win!!!
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 14, 2023 20:41:56 GMT -5
Laval clinches!
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 15, 2023 12:59:58 GMT -5
The Rocket won 8 of their last 9 games and Primeau was very strong in his last starts, so they enter the playoffs playing with some confidence and with a hot goalie.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 15, 2023 13:20:28 GMT -5
It's more than that, as well. The adage is that you are your record and normally that is true. In the case of the Rocket, they might not be. Heineman and Struble were added later. A number of guys were give opportunities at the big league level and that probably improved their pace and ability to handle slightly less time and space. Finally, two of the kids, RHP and Ylonen improved at that level and are better than they were before call up.
Those factors, along with (as you pointed out) the solid goaltending that they are getting, makes the Rocket a really dangerous opponent to face. I'm looking forward to these playoffs.
As an aside, I wonder if Sylvain will be watching, to get the vicarious experience.
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Post by Lord Bebop on Apr 15, 2023 15:32:02 GMT -5
They came up clutch in the final week of the season. Primeau has been standing on his head keeping Rocket in these games. JF Houle has his team playing a very high risk offensive style. His defensemen pinching and forwards cheating. Leaves their goalies making some tough saves. Fun as they are one of the highest scoring teams in the league but man it stressful at times too. Curious how this style fits in a playoff setting. Teams respect their offense but if they play smart enough there will be mistakes Laval will make eventually
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Post by folatre on Apr 15, 2023 18:04:34 GMT -5
Nice to see the Rocket deliver in a lot of must win games over the last three weeks.
Primeau has really come on strong in the spring, much like 2022. I continue to think he is talented enough to have a NHL career (though it is too early to say if he can polish his craft enough to truly be tandem level quality). But given how long it takes some eventual NHL goalies to develop, I would not want to lose him on waivers in September.
I know there is a degree of recency bias here because Primeau is hot and Allen had a stinker of a season, but hey management has some things to ponder.
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Post by Lord Bebop on Apr 16, 2023 7:06:14 GMT -5
Even barely qualifying for the playoffs other fanbases do not what to face a “reloaded” Laval team
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 16, 2023 10:47:15 GMT -5
The other X factor is that Laval sells out their barn and it is loud and nuts in the playoffs. It is not an easy place for opposing teams to come in and get wins. The atmosphere and being closer to home were big selling points as to why Anthony Richard signed with the Habs/Laval in the off-season. He said it was a wild place to play as a visitor and looked forward to being on the good side of the crowd.
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Post by Lord Bebop on Apr 16, 2023 16:58:02 GMT -5
The other X factor is that Laval sells out their barn and it is loud and nuts in the playoffs. It is not an easy place for opposing teams to come in and get wins. The atmosphere and being closer to home were big selling points as to why Anthony Richard signed with the Habs/Laval in the off-season. He said it was a wild place to play as a visitor and looked forward to being on the good side of the crowd. That was the talk at the AllStar game. Lots of players are noticing the atmosphere. |
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Post by NWTHabsFan on Apr 17, 2023 13:18:54 GMT -5
Tourigny will be with Laval next season on an AHL deal after a good year in Slovakia. The Habs still have his NHL rights until June 1, 2024.
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Post by seventeen on Apr 17, 2023 15:13:09 GMT -5
Good to hear. Trencin Dukla, his Slovak team, finished 9th out of a 12 team league, so it was no powerhouse. He had 26 points in 42 games, a .60 ppg pace and finished -1. That was the best mark for the Dmen on the team, but most were in that -1 to -4 range. Not a high variance. He should help Laval, but at 5'8", 168 lbs, he's the typical small Dman.
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Post by Lord Bebop on Apr 18, 2023 15:56:18 GMT -5
When it comes to Defensemen they really have a type. Trudeau, Beaudin, Norlinder, Schueneman, Bowey, Allard and Leskinen all play a similar game. Fits with JF Houle’s game plan. He likes his defense aggressively pushing the puck up the ice. Tourigny ( who I never saw play) seems to be in this mold, from what I read of him.
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Post by jkr on Apr 19, 2023 8:05:54 GMT -5
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