The Laval Rocket had a first opportunity to eliminate the Columbus Blue Jackets affiliates Cleveland Monsters yesterday in the first divisional semi-final held at the Place Bell in Laval. Ahead 2-0 in the series, the Montreal Canadiens' farm team hoped to finish the job and sweep the series.

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Unfortunately for Pascal Vincent’s men, it wasn’t to be. Much like the Montreal Canadiens struggled to clinch a playoff berth, the Rocket couldn’t get the final win to book its place in the next round.

Cayden Primeau, freshly back from a short stay in Montreal to back up Jakub Dobes, was back between the pipes for Laval after Jacob Fowler had won the first two games in Cleveland. While Primeau wasn’t responsible for the loss, with one goal coming on a breakaway and another on an odd-man rush, it will be interesting to see if the coach decides to return to Fowler for game four.

The Rocket looked nervous early on, and 11 penalties were assessed in the first frame alone. After every whistle, there was some pushing and shoving. Both teams eventually focused on hockey, and the Monsters drew first blood when Dylan Gambrell scored the first of his two goals with less than two minutes left in the second period.

Cleveland then added two more goals midway through the third frame. Down 3-0, the Rocket turned the intensity up a notch and took 19 shots on Jet Greaves’ net in the final frame alone. Laurent Dauphin scored the home team’s only goal with less than seven minutes to go.

Playing his first AHL game, Oliver Kapanen looked very good on the ice, outskating the opponents numerous times and taking five shots on goal. Dauphin was the only player to shoot more often than Kapanen, with seven shots, while Alex Barre-Boulet also took five.

The Monsters took game three by a final score of 3-1. Game four is scheduled for Tuesday night, and until then, there will be plenty of discussions about whether Vincent should give the net back to Fowler to finish the job.

Given how Primeau had played in the final stretch of the regular season, going 11-0-1-1, it was understandable for the bench boss to give him back the net, but now that the Rocket have lost a game, will he decide to turn back to the goaltender who is seen by most as the Canadiens’ next number one? Not long ago, Montreal’s farm team was led to the Calder Cup title by a rookie netminder who joined the team in the last miles of the season. In 2007, Carey Price played the season's last two games before shining in the AHL playoffs and winning the tournament’s MVP award.

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