Not wanting to harm the Laval Rocket’s chances of making the playoffs, the Canadiens decided to reward two local players who have been playing in the American Hockey League for some time.
The Montreal club urgently recalled forward Joël Teasdale and defender Frédéric Allard on Tuesday morning. They will face the Islanders on Wednesday in New York, and possibly the Boston Bruins the next day at the Bell Centre.
Meanwhile, the Rocket will host the Toronto Marlies at Place Bell on Wednesday night in a crucial game in the North Division playoff race.
The Canadian could have recalled forwards Rafaël Harvey-Pinard or Jesse Ylönen, and defender Corey Schueneman, who were all in uniform against the Maple Leafs on Saturday in Toronto. He preferred to leave his best assets to his school club during his last campaign trip.
“We are at a time where the priority is there (at the Rocket), for the right reasons,” said Canadian head coach Martin St-Louis.
Teasdale and Allard aren’t worried about the circumstances surrounding their recall. Allard, 25, will play a second game with the Canadiens this season, having taken advantage of other special circumstances to face the Golden Knights in Las Vegas on March 5, days after being acquired by the Habs from the Kings. from Los Angeles.
horny teasdale
For Teasdale, this will be his first game in the NHL after a career marked by two serious injuries to his right knee.
“I slept very little, I was so excited,” said Teasdale, who learned the news during a meeting with St. Louis and general manager Kent Hughes after the Rocket’s 4-0 win Monday over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
“I ran all over the place yesterday. I made calls, my father, my mother, the family, ”he listed.
Teasdale, 24, has 23 goals and 15 assists in 56 games this season with the Rocket.
He had a slow start to the campaign, even being left out by coach Jean-François Houle, before having some good times later in the winter.
“I’ve had a good streak recently and that’s the kind of thing that comes to mind,” said Teasdale, who therefore hoped to have caught the eye of his bosses.
“Kent and Martin met me and told me it was to reward me for my season. I was very happy,” he added.
Although his journey hasn’t been easy, Teasdale said he’s too passionate about hockey to have considered giving up on his dream of one day playing in the NHL.
His significant right knee injuries, in August 2019 and April 2021, have only helped shape his character.
“I was 21 when I got my second injury. I was still young and at that age and in the form that we are, it’s still relatively easy to come back from such injuries, he said. It never crossed my mind to change course. »
Teasdale recounted often carpooling with Harvey-Pinard at Rocket home games. He took the opportunity Monday evening to ask several questions to the man who shone with the Habs this winter with 16 goals and 26 points in 38 games.
“I wanted to know how to dress for the plane ride and for the games overseas,” Teasdale said. What time are the meetings, are there morning practices, etc. »
Harvey-Pinard will not accompany him to New York, but Teasdale will at least be able to turn to Samuel Montembeault, whom he rubbed shoulders with for two seasons with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, in the QMJHL.
“We saw in Laval that he’s capable of scoring, but he’s not afraid of the tough game,” Montembeault said of Teasdale. Tomorrow, they (the Islanders) will absolutely want to win in the hope of qualifying for the playoffs. I think it’s the kind of match where he can do well. »
Teasdale said he wore the Canadiens jersey while playing street hockey when he was 4 years old. Allard, he recalled that it is always special to put on the Saint-Flanelle.
“Whether it’s the first, second or 100th time, it’s a dream every time,” he insisted.
A guest reserve guard?
Montembeault will defend the Canadiens’ net against the Islanders. However, the identity of his auxiliary is unknown.
Allen hasn’t played for the Habs since April 1, when he was Montembeault’s assistant, and he hasn’t played since March 27 against the Buffalo Sabers.
Cayden Primeau has not been recalled from the Rocket, which suggests he will be in action at Place Bell on Wednesday.
Met an hour before the team’s departure for the airport, St-Louis curtly replied that he did not yet know who will be on the Habs bench at UBS Arena on Wednesday.
All this suggests that the Canadian could bring in a guest goaltender through an amateur tryout contract, as the Maple Leafs did against the Habs on Saturday.