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Laval Rocket Clinch Berth in 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs

By Ryan Praught

LAVAL, QC - MAY 12: Goaltender Cayden Primeau #31 of the Laval Rocket tends net against the Syracuse Crunch during the second period in Game Three of the North Division Semifinals at Place Bell on May 12, 2022 in Laval, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Syracuse Crunch 4-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - MAY 12: Goaltender Cayden Primeau #31 of the Laval Rocket tends net against the Syracuse Crunch during the second period in Game Three of the North Division Semifinals at Place Bell on May 12, 2022 in Laval, Canada. The Laval Rocket defeated the Syracuse Crunch 4-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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It took them all 72 games, but the Laval Rocket secured their spot in the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season. It came down to the wire, but when the Rocket needed to step up the most, they delivered, winning eight of their last nine to snag the final remaining playoff spot in their division. The Rocket will either play the Utica Comets or Rochester Americans in the playoffs, but that still remains to be determined at this time.

The Calder Cup Playoffs work a little differently than the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with 23 teams making it to the postseason as opposed to the NHL’s 16. In Laval’s case, five teams from their division make the playoffs, with the fourth and fifth-place teams playing a best-of-three series to determine who advances to play the one seed in a best-of-five series. Last year, the Rochester Americans were the five seed and went all the way to the third round, knocking off the one-seeded Utica Comets before ultimately losing to Laval.

The Rocket made it all the way to the Eastern Conference final last season losing in game seven, the furthest they’ve been since they won the Calder Cup back in 2007 when they were still known as the Hamilton Bulldogs.  Laval will look to re-capture some of that playoff magic as they get set to kick off the playoffs on Wednesday, and fans are excited.

The Rocket will be doing a white-out, much like the Winnipeg Jets, just as they did last year. For those unfamiliar, a whiteout is when all the fans in the building wear white, which brightens the crowd and creates a really cool look as the play goes on. Several teams have done it in several sports, but the original Winnipeg Jets popularized it in hockey. Since then, the new Jets have brought it back. Arizona also continued the tradition after the Jets moved there but hasn’t made the playoffs with fans in the building in a while. Here’s a cool look at the current Jets using it:

With the Rocket entering the playoffs as hot as they are and several key players back after stints with the big club, the Rocket are primed for another postseason run. And with the Canadiens season officially over, many fans’ attention will now turn to the Rocket and other prospects in junior hockey still playing. So make sure to stay locked in with A Winning Habit as we continue to update you on everything happening within the Canadiens organization.

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