Laval Rocket move on to Eastern Conference Final after defeating Rochester Americans
Posted May 26, 2025 6:03 pm.
Last Updated May 26, 2025 6:07 pm.
Crowned champions of the North Division after defeating the Rochester Americans on Sunday night, the Laval Rocket will now face the Atlantic Division champions, the Charlotte Checkers, in the Eastern Conference Final.
Thirty-three goals, intense intensity, a few mental battles, and a climactic game. In the end, the Laval Rocket showed why they finished the season ranked first overall.
It was far from perfect for the Montreal Canadiens’ farm team, but ultimately, their convincing 5-0 victory allowed them to eliminate the Rochester Americans in five games.
Even though Laval had posted an excellent 6-1-1 record against the Americans this season, it was much more difficult in the playoffs. Head coach Pascal Vincent had to make some adjustments before the series even got underway.
Vincent first had to worry about Czech forward Jiri Kulich, loaned to the Americans after scoring 15 goals in 62 games with the Buffalo Sabres this season. He then tried to maintain the rhythm of his squad, which had to wait eight days before starting this North Division final series.
“There was a long break between series. This is a team we’ve had success against this season, but Jiri Kulich changed the game. He’s a very talented player we hadn’t seen. He balanced their lines, and we had to make adjustments. On both sides, there were alternating good and bad games, but it was important for us to play the last game at home,” said the head coach.
And this home game couldn’t have come at a better time for the Rocket. From the first skate, you could tell the players wanted to avenge their embarrassing loss in Game 4, and they all contributed in their own way. The power play also reawakened, scoring two goals after being shut out in the previous three games.
In Laval, this performance was expected, and it came at just the right time.
“I feel like we’ve had so many good moments in this series, but we haven’t been able to play a complete game like this. It was nice to pull it off when we were up against the wall,” said forward Sean Farrell, who scored a goal and added two assists in Game 5.
One of the key stories of the series for the Habs’ farm team was the management of goaltenders Cayden Primeau and Jacob Fowler. The rotation system continued to help Fowler’s development, even though he suffered two losses against the Americans.
For Rochester, there were no such questions. Devon Levi played every game, and several Rocket players took turns trying to distract him.
The key was ultimately to create more congestion in front of him and obscure his view as much as possible. The Quebecer finished the series with a 3.64 goals-against average and a .862 save percentage.
The Rocket thus reached the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since 2022. Back then, they got there in somewhat more surprising fashion. Laval finished third in the North Division, six points away from missing the playoffs.
The current club is brimming with confidence, just like in 2022, but the general impression is that they should have made the final four this season.
“In 2022, we had a lot of confidence, and it’s the same this year. I even think we have more talent this time around. Our group is special.” We have the confidence and the talent to accomplish great things. We all know that. We just have to play our style and not get too emotional,” said Primeau, who was the number one goalie during that long playoff run.
The Rocket will now face the Charlotte Checkers, the Florida Panthers’ affiliate. The AHL being what it is, the two teams haven’t played against each other since the 2018-19 season. The last game was on Dec. 29, 2018.
The least we can say is that both coaching staffs will have to prepare quickly, as the series begins Wednesday night at Place Bell.
“We don’t know the Checkers much. What I know so far is that they’re an older team, they play well defensively, and they’re heavyweights. They still swept the Hershey Bears, who were the two-time defending champions.” It’s not nothing. We’re going to prepare quickly. I prefer that to having to wait. It will be our biggest challenge of the season,” said Vincent.
SCHEDULE
GAME 1 – Wed., May 28, 2025 – 7:00 PM
CLT @ LAV
GAME 2 – Thu., May 29, 2025 – 7:00 PM
CLT @ LAV
GAME 3 – Sun., June 1, 2025 – 4:00 PM
LAV @ CLT
GAME 4 – Tue., June 3, 2025 – 7:00 PM
LAV @ CLT
GAME 5* – Thu., June 5, 2025 – 7:00 PM
LAV @ CLT
GAME 6* – Sat., June 7, 2025 – 3:00 PM
CLT @ LAV
GAME 7* – Sun., June 8, 2025 – 3:00 PM
CLT @ LAV
(*If necessary)
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
