Follow the game between the Laval Rocket and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins starting at 7 p.m. on RDS.ca.
Quebecer Rafaël Harvey-Pinard has had a meteoric rise this season in the Canadiens organization and after several months of success with the CH, “RHP” was demoted to the American League to help the Laval Rocket in their race for the playoffs. .
Offensively, Harvey-Pinard’s record is virtually the same with the Rocket as with the Canadiens this season. Back with Laval for the first time in a few months, RHP will try to have the same impact until the end of the season with the Rocket.
“If someone had told me in January that I was going to score 14 goals when I was called up, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. We say it often, but trust means a lot. I arrived in Montreal with more confidence and I felt comfortable on the ice. I was making more plays and when the puck was close to the net, I was able to capitalize on my chances. I’m surprised, but I think I made good progress game after game and I’m happy with what I did there,” admitted Harvey-Pinard in an interview with our colleague Stéphane Leroux during the podcast. On the ice.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for me. I arrive here and I can play games at the end of the season which have a stake. It’s gonna be the fun. I can’t wait to play the games and help them. I still have very good contacts with the guys here so it’s important for me to help them and do my best with them. »
Harvey-Pinard and the Rocket will begin their sprint final tonight against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. RHP will not be too out of place when he returns to the AHL, even if the context is quite different than when he left the team to join Martin St-Louis’ troop last January.
“It’s special! I was happy to see the guys again, to be able to talk to them and to see the changes that have been made,” explained Harvey-Pinard, who practiced with the Rocket on Monday morning.
“Right now, the guys are in playoff mode. They are focused and there is an atmosphere in the arena. We feel that the guys are ready and can’t wait to play the games to come. It’s different than with the Canadian, who is sure not to make the playoffs. It adds a layer of intensity to the practices. »
And by his own admission, the Rocket could well create a surprise if he manages to access the playoffs.
“We have a really balanced line-up, we are good everywhere. I think it’s important, there’s nothing that can beat playoff experience. There’s a lot to learn in intense games, it’s another level in the playoffs. »
For now, RHP’s future still seems uncertain and he still doesn’t know if he will be a member of the Canadiens or the Rocket next October. The main interested party, however, refuses to dwell on it. For now, his focus is entirely on the next few days.
” I do not know exactly. I think I’m supposed to stay until the end of the year with the Rocket, but I’m going to take it one day at a time and I want to focus on tonight’s game. We’ll see then. »
“It’s certain that the objective next year will be to play with the Canadiens, but it’s still a long way off and I want to get through one day at a time. I want to focus with the Rocket for the last three games to qualify for the playoffs. My training summer will be important to me. »