The Montreal Canadiens ’season is over, but their American League school club, the Rockets, are preparing for the first playoff game in its history at Laval.
The Rockets will face Syracuse Crunch, parent club of the Tampa Bay Lightning, in the North Division semifinals after getting a bye in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
After four games without a win in a row, the Rockets (39-26-7) ended their season with two wins, including a 5-1 victory over Crunch in their last outing, that put them ahead. of the Senators de Belleville in third place. in the division.
The Rockets were Canadian Division champions in 2020-21, but the team did not play a playoff game due to the pandemic.
We are very excited about this opportunity. This is the first time this organization will play in the playoffs.said striker Rafael Harvey-Pinard. Last year we had a good season, but we couldn’t get into the playoffs. We are ready to give everything for our supporters. They deserve it.
Harvey-Pinard hatched this season. He led the team in points in his second AHL season with 21 goals and 35 assists in 69 games. The 23-year-old skater also got his first taste of the NHL. He played four games at CH and scored once.
While the Canadiens are in rebuilding mode, the long playoff streak could be a good selling point for Rocket players heading to the next camp.
For the youngest, it is to try to make the big club next year. For veterans without a contract, it’s a showcase to sell themselvesthe aforementioned Rocket head coach Jean-François Houle. As you get into the playoffs, more NHL clubs will pay attention to you. It can only be useful for your future.
The Calder Cup playoffs begin on Monday. The first round consists of seven best-of-three series. The winners will find the nine teams enjoying the division semi-finals.
The semi-finals and divisional finals were three of five. The association final and the grand final will be played in the best of seven matches.
The Manitoba Moose got one of the byes in the Central Division, while Belleville and Abbotsford had to play in the first round.
The Toronto Marlies are the only Canadian team not included in the playoffs.
Here is an overview of the three series involving Canadian teams:
Belleville Senators vs. Rochester Americans
Sens ’victory in the final game of the season against the Marlies allowed them to qualify. Rochester will host Game 1 on Wednesday before the series moves to Belleville for Games 2 and 3. The winner will face Utica Comets in the next round.
The Americans have top rookie Jack Quinn in their ranks. Quinn had 61 points, including 26 goals, in just 45 games.
The Senators will receive reinforcements from Senators, including Parker Kelly, who played 41 games in Ottawa.
Abbotsford Canucks against Bakersfield Condors
The Canucks will contact the Oilers school club. All three games will be played in Bakersfield starting Tuesday.
After nine straight winning streaks in April, the Canucks ended their season with two offensive losses to the Moose. The Canucks have winger Sheldon Rempal, who finished eighth in the league with 69 points, including 33 goals, in 55 games.
Manitoba Moose vs. Milwaukee Admirals
The Moose have long been preparing for the playoffs after finishing second in the mighty Central Division, behind season-champion Chicago Wolves. He will have an ice advantage against the Admirals, club-school of the Nashville Predators.
Manitoba added two European Jets prospects at the end of the season. Winger Daniel Thorgeson, a 2020 second-round pick, scored two goals and added assists in four games. Center Henri Nikkanen, a 2019 fourth-round pick, also joined the team before the playoffs.
Source: Radio-Canada
