Rocket and Crunch rely on many Quebec players, while behind the bench, Jean-François Houle is strikingly at odds with Benoît Groulx.

We know each other. But in the playoffs, there are no friends on the other teamPaquette-Bisson insisted earlier this week.

The top three scorers for both teams are Quebecers: Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, Jean-Sébastien Dea and Xavier Ouellet for the Rocket; Alex Barré-Boulet, Gabriel Dumont and Charles Hudon for Crunch. On goal, Kevin Poulin of Rocket and Maxime Lagacé of Crunch were named AHL Goalie of the Month in February and April, respectively.

It raises emotions. There will be a lot of intensityrecognized Harvey-Pinard, who scored 56 points in 69 games this winter.

Even without the Quebec factor, the two teams already have a healthy rivalry in the area. They have faced off eight times this season. On each occasion, the home team took the lead, including Saturday, when the Rockets won 5-1 while Crunch dismissed several veterans.

” Crunch is a team that has thrived throughout the season. The team we faced at the start of the season was really not the same as the one we faced at the end of the campaign. They are a physical team, but also great. “

Houle called the Crunch one of the hottest teams in the league. Crunch also won 9 of its last 10 games before lowering the flag to Rocket at the end of the campaign.

I think they had a hard time with us, especially here (in Laval)he added, however, before noting that Rocket often travels to Syracuse in difficult circumstances.

There was a fight where we traveled on the day of the fight because of COVID-19, with the underlined Houle. Most of our battles there are then play here and then travel. I think we definitely get more tired every time we play with them building.

A hungry team

The Rockets will make the AHL playoffs for the first time in five -year history. The team finished at the top of the Canadian Division in 2021, but the Tour decided not to hold a playoff between the Canadian teams due to restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

That’s why Laval players believe they have a chance to prove their worth this spring.

We’ve had the fire since last year, Paquette-Bisson acknowledged. It hurts when we find out there are no playoffs. We are eager to see how far we can go. This year is our chance to show that the Rocket can go far.

The margin of error will be slim for Rocket, however, as their series against Crunch will be played in a three-for-five format.

In that context, Houle said it was more important to win one of the first two games played on Friday and Saturday in Syracuse. If the Rockets let these two games go, they will turn their backs on the wall next Thursday at Place Bell.

We all know you have to win at least one fight to win this series. It may be sooner or later, but we will try to win at the beginningend of coach.