There won’t be any springtime hockey for the Montreal Canadiens this season, but their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, still has a chance to earn a Calder Cup playoff berth.
It won’t be easy for the Rocket, as there’s no longer a margin for error. There are only two games left on the docket, and they both qualify as must-win matchups.
However, the team that was robbed of many of its best players throughout the season due to injuries and call-ups has finally received some good news.
Rather than removing talent from the lineup, the Canadiens are set to send defencemen Jayden Struble, Justin Barron, and Logan Mailloux to the AHL in a desperate bid to push them closer to qualifying for the playoffs.
In addition to the defensive reinforcements, the Rocket will also enjoy a significant boost to their offensive setup, as forward Joshua Roy has recovered from his injury and has been cleared to play.
Too Little, Too Late?
All four players will quickly slot into crucial roles for the Rocket, but at this point in the season it may not be enough to secure playoff hockey.
Laval trails their North Division rivals, the Belleville Senators, by two points. To make matters worse, the Senators also have a game in hand.
The Senators are slated to play the division-leading Syracuse Crunch on Wednesday, a team they have dominated throughout the regular schedule. In six meetings, the Crunch have only emerged with a win on one occasion this year.
Depending on the result of the Syracuse and Belleville matchup, things could come down to the final two games of the year, as the Senators and the Rocket are scheduled to play back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday.
While there may not be any playoff hockey in the cards for either the Montreal Canadiens or the Laval Rocket, there’s certainly important hockey left to play in the American Hockey League.
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