Lah Series: Rocket’s Cleveland Course
- Despite finishing atop the American Hockey League (AHL) standings, the Laval Rocket will begin their playoff journey on the road.
- The monsters secured their playoff berth late in the season,clinching the fifth seed in the North Division.
- The Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, will carry momentum into the series against Laval, coached by Pascal Vincent.
Laval Rocket, Top Seed, Opens AHL Playoff Series Against Cleveland Monsters
Posted: April 29, 2025, 5:03 p.m.
Despite finishing atop the American Hockey League (AHL) standings, the Laval Rocket will begin their playoff journey on the road. They face the Cleveland Monsters in a best-of-three series,with the first two games in Cleveland starting Wednesday.
The monsters secured their playoff berth late in the season,clinching the fifth seed in the North Division. Their first-round series against the Toronto Marlies was a hard-fought battle,with both games requiring overtime. Luca Pinelli initially played the hero, but James Malatesta ultimately propelled the Monsters to the next round with a goal in double overtime.
Monsters Carry Momentum, Rocket Boast Strong Road Record
The Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, will carry momentum into the series against Laval, coached by Pascal Vincent. They will also have the advantage of playing in front of their home crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for the first two games.
However, the Rocket have proven their mettle on the road, posting a 24-10-2 record away from home this season, the second-best in the AHL.they also won both regular-season games played in Cleveland.
In previous matchups this season, Laval initially dominated Cleveland with a 5-0 led before losing 2-1 in overtime, despite outshooting the Monsters. When the teams met at Place Bell, the monsters again needed overtime to secure a 3-2 victory before Laval dominated with a 6-0 win.
Rocket’s Offensive Prowess vs. Fowler’s Goaltending Debut
Statistically, the Rocket hold an advantage, finishing tied for first in the league in goals scored (178) and boasting the 11th-best offense.The team features six players who have reached the 20-goal mark this season.
The most intriguing aspect of the series may be the goaltending matchup. With cayden Primeau recalled by the Montreal Canadiens due to an injury to Samuel Montembeault, Jacob Fowler is expected to start in net for Laval.
Fowler, after two seasons in the NCAA, joined Laval in mid-April and has a 2-1-0 record with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage in three AHL games.
Coach vincent mentioned during Fowler’s initial practices that anything was possible in the playoffs, suggesting the 21-year-old goaltender could get his chance. Vincent drew a parallel to the 2022 season when Kevin Poulin took over the starting role, even though the Rocket were eventually eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final.
Greaves Returns to AHL,Mateychuk Back on Monsters’ Blue Line
For the Monsters,Jet Greaves returns to the AHL after a stint with the blue Jackets. Greaves won his last eight starts in the NHL, but his team fell short of a playoff berth by two points.
Cleveland also welcomes back defenseman Denton Mateychuk. The 2022 first-round pick recorded four goals and 13 points in 45 NHL games this season.
Games 3 through 5, if necessary, are scheduled to be played at Place Bell, beginning Sunday.
Laval Rocket vs. Cleveland Monsters: AHL Playoff Series Preview
Posted: April 29, 2025
The Laval Rocket, top seed in the AHL, are set to face the Cleveland Monsters in a best-of-three playoff series. While Laval finished the season at the top of the standings, they’ll start their playoff journey on the road against the Monsters.Cleveland secured their playoff spot as the fifth seed in the North Division.
When and Where are the Games being Played?
The series begins on Wednesday with the first two games taking place in Cleveland at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. if necessary, games 3 through 5 will be played at Place Bell, starting Sunday.
Early Game Results and Outcomes
The first round series against the Toronto Marlies was a hard-fought battle, requiring overtime in both games. After a tough first series in which luca Pinelli started as the hero, it was James Malatesta who propelled the Monsters to the next round with a goal in double overtime.
Cleveland Monsters’ Momentum and Rocket’s Road Record
The Cleveland Monsters,affiliated with the Columbus Blue Jackets,will aim to leverage their momentum in the series. They also have the advantage of playing in front of their home crowd. In the first two games, they’ll use a home-ice advantage in the series.
The Laval Rocket, though, have proven they can win on the road, with a 24-10-2 record this season, which is the second-best in the AHL. They also managed to win both regular-season games in Cleveland.
This season, Laval initially dominated Cleveland with a 5-0 lead before losing 2-1 in overtime, despite being outshot by the Monsters. The teams fought again at place Bell,with the Monsters needing overtime to secure a 3-2 victory before Laval dominated with a 6-0 win.
Key Players and Potential Impact: Who to Watch?
Several players are expected to make a significant impact on the series.
- Jet Greaves: Returning to the AHL after a stint with the Blue Jackets. Greaves won his last eight starts in the NHL.
- Denton Mateychuk: The 2022 first-round pick returns to the Monsters’ blue line.
- Jacob Fowler: Expected to start in net for Laval, stepping in for Cayden Primeau.
Laval Rocket’s Offensive Prowess
The Rocket possess a strong offense. They finished tied for first in the league in goals scored (178) and have the 11th-best offense. The team boasts six players with 20 goals or more this season.
Goaltending Matchup: Fowler’s Debut
the goaltending matchup is a key aspect of the series. With Cayden Primeau recalled by the Montreal Canadiens, Jacob Fowler is expected to start for Laval. Fowler joined Laval in mid-April after two seasons in the NCAA and has a 2-1-0 record with a 2.32 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage in three AHL games.
Coach Pascal Vincent has hinted that anything is possible in the playoffs. He drew a parallel to the 2022 season, when Kevin Poulin took over the starting role.
Player Returns and Lineup Changes
The Cleveland Monsters will see the return of jet Greaves from the NHL, adding experience in the net. They also welcome back defenseman Denton Mateychuk.
Summary of Key Stats
Here’s a fast comparison of some key statistics:
| Category | Laval Rocket | Cleveland Monsters |
|---|---|---|
| Goals Scored (Regular Season) | Tied for 1st (178) | N/A |
| Road Record | N/A | 24-10-2 (2nd Best in AHL) |
| Home Advantage | N/A | First 2 games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse |