(Laval) The Laval Rocket has not managed to put everything together in its last five games, but the support players have had nothing to reproach themselves for.
Carried by its offensive players during a streak of three victories in mid-November, the Laval team then hit a wall when it returned to the road for four matches.
What caught the attention for the Rocket is that their three best pointers this season, Joshua Roy, Brandon Gignac and Sean Farrell, totaled only a meager point during this sequence, in addition to showing a differential minus-16.
This perhaps partly explains the four consecutive defeats on opposing rinks.
Head coach Jean-François Houle is not worried by this situation, but he wants to see his best players give a little more and challenge themselves to regain their offensive rhythm.
“First, it’s important for them to know that they’re experiencing lethargy. Then, to get out of it, you have to work a little bit harder and get to the net. You just have to apply the details to get back on the scoresheet,” observed Houle on Tuesday after training at Place Bell.
“It doesn’t just happen, you have to work,” he added. If you don’t put in the effort and put yourself in a good position on the ice, it won’t happen. This is our message to the players who haven’t scored in a long time. »
In return, Houle saw some support players work extra hard to get their hands dirty in attack
Forwards Riley Kidney, Jan Mysak and Nathan Légaré totaled eight points, including five goals, and a plus-3 differential during this trip. Defender Olivier Galipeau collected four assists in three games.
The Rocket head coach said he was satisfied with the work of some young players and admitted that these successes gave him a little more ammunition to juggle with his training.
“It’s nice to see these guys producing and it gives them a little confidence. We can afford to put them in different situations and it’s good for the team. Guys like Kidney and Mysak play a little more and they deserve it. When you work and you have a good streak, it’s nice to see that your coach has confidence in you. We need our support players. »
Kidney, a second-round pick of the Canadiens in 2021, needed a good adjustment at the start of the season, as he moved from the junior ranks to the professionals. He has three goals and five points in 15 games this season.
Houle has mentioned a few times that Kidney needs to add strength to his upper body and the 20-year-old prospect has focused on that since the start of the season. In his opinion, his recent successes reflect the fruit of his efforts.
“I struggled at the start of the season, but I’m happy with the way I’ve been playing over the last few games. I try to get stronger and more massive every day. Recently, I have won more battles and been more physical and it has paid off. I learned some techniques to win pucks against bigger opponents,” Kidney explained.
Mysak, a second round pick of the Habs in 2020, is used a little more in defensive missions and in an energy role. His work led to two goals in two games over the weekend.
“I feel like my game is improving. I feel more confident and I have more opportunities on the ice. I am grateful for that. The support players get a little more ice time and it’s important to take that chance and produce,” Mysak argued.
Houle now hopes that this short offensive push from Kidney and Mysak, among others, will continue even if the Rocket is about to find two of its spearheads in attack: Emil Heineman and Gabriel Bourque.
Heineman and Bourque should be in the lineup for both games against the Canucks in Abbotsford this weekend. Philippe Maillet wore a non-contact jersey in training on Tuesday and is waiting for the green light from doctors before returning to the game.
