The Montreal Canadiens’ farm team, the Laval Rocket, gave everything it had yesterday, but it wasn’t enough. Pascal Vincent’s men put up a brave fight and were even up 2-0 early in the second frame, but they could not protect their lead against the Florida Panthers’ farm team, the Charlotte Checkers who signed a fourth win to sweep Laval.
The more experienced Checkers capitalized on the Rocket’s every mistake, making the most of the turnovers they were handed, and the turning point was no doubt the hit to Gustav Lindstrom’s head. The defenseman had to leave the game, and Laval had a five-minute power play. Not only were they unable to score during the major man advantage, but they also allowed Mackenzie Entwisle to take off on a breakaway to tie the score.
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Even though the Rocket allowed two goals in less than five minutes, they were able to give their head a shake and stop the bleeding. The score remained tied until late in the third period when a miscommunication between defenseman Zack Hayes and goaltender Jacob Fowler led to an ill-fated expedition out of his net. Hayes fell and tried to sweep the puck away, but sent it straight to Jesse Puljujarvi, who only had to shoot it in the empty net. Game, set, and match, Charlotte. With this 3-2 win, the Checkers move on to the Calder Cup final.
Fowler seemed pretty down on himself after the game, but Vincent mentioned that hockey is a game of mistakes, and it happens. The bench boss was pleased with the young goaltender’s performance, especially in the circumstances. Coming in relief down 3-0 in the series was not an ideal position to be put in.
In the end, though, the coach said the Rocket lost because the Checkers were just physically stronger and were unable to win the 1-on-1 battles. Laval youngsters will have to spend some time in the gym and get stronger as they mature, which is a normal part of the process. Vincent’s team was a young one, while Charlotte was a much more experienced side.
Furthermore, the Rocket’s blue line was decimated with injuries to William Trudeau and Tyler Wotherspoon, while Logan Mailloux was a game-time decision. Owen Beck and Joshua Roy were the goal scorers last night, and both played well. The latter finished the playoffs with 10 points in 13 games while the former had six points in 13 tilts. Game 4 of the series was Filip Mesar’s first game of the playoffs, and he wasn’t all that noticeable, managing just one shot on goal. With the arrival of Oliver Kapanen and the inspired play of veterans and youngsters alike in the playoffs, he was just surplus to requirements.
While the playoffs didn’t end the way the organization would have liked, the Rocket still had a fantastic season in which it won the first regular-season championship of its history. Overall, the young men whom the Canadiens will soon call upon gained valuable experience throughout the season and saw what it takes to win in the playoffs, a lesson that also applies in the NHL, considering how roughed up the Canadiens were by the Washington Capitals in their first-round series.
Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images
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