Since his return to the American Hockey League, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard has wasted no time finding his bearings and the love of fans.
The recipient of the Molson Cup for the month of March with the Canadiens, was an accomplice to five goals for his team and allowed the Laval Rocket to sign a victory of capital importance of 6-3 at the expense of the Toronto Marlies, Wednesday evening at Place Bell.
The player most acclaimed by the crowd was the catalyst for the Laval team. He allowed his linemates to shine. Anthony Richard scored a hat trick and Mitchell Stephens scored twice.
With this win, the Rocket increases the pressure on the Cleveland Monsters in the playoff race. The Columbus Blue Jackets farm club still has its destiny in its hands, but the pressure is on.
Incidentally, the victory of Jean-François Houle’s troops officially excluded the Belleville Senators from the race for the playoffs. It will therefore be a fight between the Monsters and the Rocket for the fifth and last rank giving access to the playoffs. Note that in theory, the Utica Comets could miss the playoffs, but in a more than unlikely scenario.
Playoff fever slowly took hold of Laval. The atmosphere was so heated at Place Bell that the fans even allowed themselves a wave during a power play. Yes, the same wave that is normally used to chase away boredom when the home team is not in the game, yet the show was there.
