The Laval Rocket finds itself a little ahead of the unknown against the Springfield Thunderbirds, whom it has faced only twice this season. Never mind, head coach Jean-François Houle is convinced that his team has what it takes for this semi-final.
“We only played twice against them, but we spied them and I think we have a good idea of what we will see, he said by videoconference on Tuesday. There is no doubt that it is a good team.
“They’re really good offensively, so we’ll have to really limit their scoring opportunities,” continued the coach. I think it’s also a wiser, more experienced team than [les Americans de] Rochester; so I don’t think they will become frustrated if they don’t take advantage of their opportunities. »
As it has done since the beginning of the present series in the American League, the Rocket’s defense will have to rise to the occasion.
“We will have to play tight against their talented players,” noted Houle. Turnovers will be key for us in this series. »
The club’s defensive successes rest in particular on the shoulders of Xavier Ouellet. The captain of the Rocket also seems to have raised his level of play since the start of the spring tournament.
“I felt that his contribution had reached another level,” confirmed Houle. He really wants to win here, in Laval. The organization hasn’t had a chance to be in the playoffs much over the past few years, and I think it’s important for him to show what this group can accomplish. »
“It’s clear that I want to win more. I like this hockey, the pressure and the energy that it brings, admitted the main interested party. Chances of winning, you don’t have them every year. When they pass, you have to grab them. »
Ouellet’s contribution is not only felt on the ice.
“He has a lot of experience, Xavier. He did more than he had to [comme capitaine], whether on the ice or off it, noted Tobie Paquette-Bisson. For young people, to see him intense and determined like that, they have no choice but to do more. »
Roy as backup
The Rocket will have reinforcements for their semi-final, when they can count on the services of forward Joshua Roy.
The Montreal Canadiens school club announced on Tuesday that the 18-year-old skater has been signed for a professional trial.
The fifth-round pick (150e in total) of the Canadiens in the 2021 draft has been on vacation since Monday, when the Sherbrooke Phoenix was eliminated in six games by the Charlottetown Islanders in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoffs.
Last season, Roy tallied 119 points, including 51 goals, in 66 games, ranking him first in QMJHL scoring and fourth in goal scoring.
In 161 games in the Courteau circuit, Roy scored 89 goals and added 109 assists for 198 points.
Separately, the Rocket announced that Mattias Nörlinder would not return to play for the series against the Thunderbirds. The defenseman is still in bad shape after taking a blow to the head from Ben Holmstrom in Game 1 of the previous series against the Rochester Americans.
“It is completely excluded that he plays in the next series. He will at least be out of the equation for the next seven days, although he will be reassessed on a daily basis,” Houle said.
The Rocket will visit the Thunderbirds beginning Saturday. The second game will be played 24 hours later.
The series will then move to Laval for the next three games, June 8, 10 and 11. If necessary, games 6 and 7 would be played on June 13 and 15, in Springfield.
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