Rocket: Rafaël Harvey-Pinard admits he lacked energy in the playoffs

Sadly, the Laval Rocket’s exciting and exhilarating end to the season only provided fans with two playoff games.

In fact, all those frenzied games that had to be won by the Rocket to confirm their playoff berth were for naught.

The Rocket lost 2-1 in a heartbreaking finale last night to the Utica Comets in Game 2 of their preliminary series.

Laval scored just one goal in two games, none of them at home in front of a packed Place Bell.

It’s a shame for the Rocket to pack it in so quickly, especially considering that Jean-François Houle had a very talented team on hand.

However, it should be noted that several players were probably not at 100%.

In fact, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard said he’d lacked energy in the playoffs with the Rocket due to the very demanding season he’d had this year.

RHP makes no secret of the fact that he realized he didn’t have all the energy he would have liked to have to help his team get further in the playoffs.

As you can see from the sequence of the Comets’ heartbreaking tying goal, Harvey-Pinard (number 11) looks exhausted and frustrated by the situation.

If you look at the footage, you can see that Walsh’s shot came within centimetres of RHP. He was inches away from blocking the shot and allowing the Rocket to win the game.

It’s a shame for the Rocket and RHP, but you can’t blame the 24-year-old Quebecer.

Indeed, it’s been a crazy season for Harvey-Pinard, both mentally and physically demanding.

The important thing for him is that, in the end, he succeeded in proving that he belongs in the National Hockey League.

All the energy he put into this feat will have been wasted in the playoffs for the Rocket, but that’s life, and so much the better for Harvey-Pinard.

It’s a far greater feat to establish yourself in the NHL and make your mark in Montreal than to spend one or two rounds in the AHL playoffs.

Harvey-Pinard can be extremely proud of his season and his accomplishments.

His efforts have paid off, and hopefully for next season in Montreal too.

In a gust

– Big game tonight between the Leafs and Lightning.

– It’ll be all white tonight in Winnipeg.

– CF Montreal will be in action tonight.

7:30 pm → Montreal: everyone to the Stadium!

Let’s do this 👊

🎟️ >>> https://t.co/Khdi97VFy6#CFMTL pic.twitter.com/F8HCQd638v

– CF Montréal (@cfmontreal) April 22, 2023

– Read more.

– I’d say B. B+ even.