The Laval Rocket are on a five-game losing streak with the team managing to collect a point in the last three. Despite the current situation, there are some positives to take from this stretch.
The Laval Rocket are on a five-game losing streak with the team managing to collect a point in the last three. Despite the current situation, there are some positives to take from this stretch.
Earning Opportunities
One of the road trip’s shining stars was forward Riley Kidney.
Kidney is on a three-game point streak with a goal in each of the last two contests. Jean-Francois Houle rewarded the 20-year old by bumping him up to the second line with Mitchell Stephens and Sean Farrell and on the second power play unit in the last two games.
“The last two games, I’ve brought my game. I wasn’t happy with my game before that. I wasn’t doing the things that I’m good at, but on Wednesday I played really well and I got an opportunity on Friday on the second line and I took advantage of that and hopefully I keep it going. It’s always fun to play in the top-six,” said the Canadiens 2021 second-round pick (63rd overall).
Adjusting to Pro
It was a slow start to the season for the Kidney with one point in his first 10 games. He was coming off a five-year QMJHL career where he totaled 218 points in 281 games.
“It’s a big adjustment from junior. These guys are men, faster, stronger, so we don’t really have a lot of time with the puck. It’s a lot of grinding here. It’s good but it’s a big adjustment,” Kidney said in a recent interview with THN.
“Each game is more of an adjustment. Each little play I noticed ‘okay, that’s different than the last few years of hockey.’ Each game, and even each practice too, I learn new things.”
The Nova Scotia native is smaller in stature being listed at 5-foot-11 inches and 183 pounds. “I like being hit early, it helps me get into the game. I know I’m not the biggest guy but I can take hits and try to give them too,” noted Kidney.
Alternate captain Lucas Condotta has taken Kidney under his wing and appears to have passed on his appreciation of the physical aspect of the game.
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