The Montreal Canadiens are getting into the playoffs via the 24-team format, and if the AHL could do the same, the Laval Rocket would as well.
The NHLPA had their vote approving the 24-team playoff ‘Return to Play’ plan. If nothing changes, hockey will return, and the Montreal Canadiens will face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the play-in round.
Although the NHL’s plan isn’t ideal, it’s the “best” they can do to ensure the 2019-20 season can get a Stanley Cup Champion. It’s unfortunate that the AHL couldn’t afford to do the same thing as they were forced to cancel their year. Opposed to the parent league, the minor league can’t afford to continue their year without fans in the stands.
But what if the AHL could re-open, and they did a similar 24-team playoff format as the NHL?
AHL beat reporter Patrick Williams tweeted what the playoffs would’ve looked like, and similar to the Montreal Canadiens who were out but got in, so would the Laval Rocket. The Rocket were four points out of the final spot currently held by Binghamton Devils.
Extending the playoffs would have the Providence Bears, Hershey Bears, Belleville Senators and Rochester Americans get a bye in the Eastern Conference while Milwaukee Admirals, Iowa Wild, Tucson Roadrunners and Colorado Eagles in the Western Conference all get a bye to the next round. Laval would be in the play-in round and face the Hartford Wolf Pack for the right to advance.
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The Wolf Pack faced the Rocket four times, and they evened the season series.
Ryan Poehling scored the first goal of the game for his third of the season. However, Hartford came back to tie the game in the third period, eventually getting the game-winner in overtime via Danny O’Regan. The Rocket took the next two games winning 4-1 and 2-1 in the shootout via Alex Belzile while Cayden Primeau stopped 27 or 28 shots.
The two teams met up for a final time in February, with Hartford winning 3-1. O’Regan got things started with his 10th, while Riley Barber was the only player to score for Laval.
There is not too much of a distance in the standings between Laval and Hartford. There’s a five-point separation, while the Rocket has generated more offence (183 goals-for vs. 171 goals-for). The interesting aspect of the series would be goaltending.
Primeau established himself as the guy on the team with Charlie Lindgren liking staying in the NHL to back up Carey Price. He went 17-11-3 with .908 save percentage. Hartford has Igor Shesterkin in the organization, and he generated a lot of hype in the NHL as it looks like his play has pushed Henrik Lundqvist out of a favourable spot with the New York Rangers.
When the NHL returns, he’ll be up, and that would be good for the Rocket as he had a .945 save percentage in the Hartford crease. In his place rookie, Adam Huska and Jean-Francois Berube have bee down sporting respective 0.894 and 0.884 save percentages. By the numbers, Laval has the edge and given the goals-against-averages, you can argue the Rocket are the better team in front of their goaltender.
- Primeau: 2.45 goals-against-average
- Huska: 3.03 goals-against-average
- Berube: 2.83 goals-against-average (with Hartford) / 2.56 goals-against-average (with Leigh Valley)
It would be a series that would likely go to the wire. Having the new signings in Jesse Ylonen, Arsen Khisamutdinov, and Cam Hillis would’ve been a nice boost as well, but their deals wouldn’t kick in until next season, and I doubt ATO players (amateur tryouts) would be eligible to play.
A fun thought-experiment, but playoff hockey in the AHL won’t come until next season. And hopefully, then, the Laval Rocket will have enough to be a legitimate playoff team.