Laval Rocket banking on goaltender Cayden Primeau's grace beneath strain

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Whereas Cayden Primeau says he doesn’t personal any costly jewellery, the Laval Rocket goaltender peppers each interview with the phrases “no strain, no diamonds.”

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That catchphrase, attributed to British thinker Thomas Carlyle, is one thing the 23-year-old goaltender has taken to coronary heart.

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Final week, within the Rocket’s frenetic push to the AHL playoffs, Primeau thrived beneath the strain, stopping 41 photographs throughout a shutout victory towards Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 39 photographs in a 6-3 win over Toronto and capping issues off with one other 39-save efficiency in a 4-3 conquer Syracuse. Three video games over 5 days.

The Rocket was outshot 31-12 by the Crunch over the ultimate two durations, Primeau dealing with 19 photographs alone within the third interval whereas conceding just one aim.

“I don’t even take a look at the numbers,” Primeau stated Tuesday after apply at Place Bell. “As a group, we had our backs towards the wall. We would have liked factors to get into the playoffs and all of us stepped up in an enormous approach. I simply tried to provide the group the perfect alternative to win. All of it got here collectively. We’re feeling good and assured.

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“I felt good and noticed the puck nicely final week,” he added. “I felt my reads had been good. I do know they acquired fairly just a few photographs, however that doesn’t replicate on how nicely the blokes performed.”

If the season oscillated for Primeau — from the month he missed with a concussion in December, to a strong late March efficiency for the Canadiens towards Philadelphia, solely to be frolicked to dry in a 5-0 defeat the next week towards Detroit on April 4 — the Farmington Hills, Mich., native was instrumental down the stretch for Laval.

And Primeau, the Canadiens’ seventh-round (199th total) draft alternative in 2017, should now shine once more for the Rocket within the playoffs, starting Wednesday night time (7 p.m. RDS, TSN Radio-690, BPM SportsRadio), when Laval hosts Utica within the opening recreation of the groups’ best-of-three sequence.

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Primeau went 19-15-9 throughout the common season, with a 3.04 goals-against common and .909 save share whereas recording three shutouts. However the Rocket rode his coattails final season to the convention closing. Primeau was dazzling within the post-season, going 9-5 in 14 video games with a 2.17 common and .936 save share.

“The perfect of him comes out in excessive strain conditions,” Rocket head coach Jean-François Houle stated. “I feel he likes the large moments. He finds a solution to be a detractor. Lots of people say he can’t do that, can’t do this. He simply stays concentrated and tries to show folks flawed. That’s what a goalie has to do … block the noise and simply focus on your self and play hockey. He’s actually good when he’s in his little bubble. It says lots about him as a participant and particular person.”

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Tending aim in Montreal by no means is a simple proposition, particularly when the inevitable comparisons to Patrick Roy and Carey Value are made. At 6-foot-3 and 203 kilos, Primeau will be an imposing determine, but continues to lack consistency on the NHL stage, his profession report an unflattering 3-12-2 in 21 video games, together with a 4.11 goals-against common and .871 save share. In fact, he hasn’t all the time had the perfect defensive help.

“He can’t wait till the top of the 12 months,” Houle stated. “With a view to be an excellent goalie within the NHL, it’s acquired to be consistency like this alongside many months. It’s vital or else different folks will bypass you. It comes with psychological power and understanding your self, the group taking part in higher in entrance of you. A number of issues come under consideration, however the consistency goes to be essential to make it to the following stage.”

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And, whereas many elements result in a group’s success, there’s no denying the significance of netminding within the playoffs, particularly over a brief sequence.

“It’s essential,” Houle stated. “There’s no room for error. You want everyone on their finest. However the goalie’s the final line of defence. There’s no person to bail him out.”

Laval will probably be with out first-line centre Mitchell Stephens and defenceman Nicolas Beaudin within the sequence, each gamers sidelined with accidents. Stephens, particularly will probably be missed, as he took many crucial late-game faceoffs this season.

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