The Laval Rocket are already in playoff mode

MONTREAL -- Ask an AHL player and they will most likely tell you it's incredibly frustrating to play against the Laval Rocket.

The reasons are clear.
Despite having called upon the service of 48 different players this season, the Rocket have maintained a relentless, cohesive style of play, which has allowed them to navigate the unpredictable waters of the AHL.
"We have a winning philosophy," said captain Xavier Ouellet. "The type of philosophy you see from teams with character, teams that want to win at all costs."
It's a team-first concept that has led to the Rocket qualifying for the playoffs for the first time since the Canadiens' AHL team moved to Laval.
But they're not waiting for the playoffs before kicking things into high gear.
"In my mind, the playoffs have already started," said Ouellet. "We're only scheduled to play divisional rivals from here to the end of the year, and we're aiming to finish among the top-3. That's the mentality in the room, the race has already started."

Certain players such as second-year-pro Rafael Harvey-Pinard, have stood out as offensive catalysts, but for the most part, the Rocket received an honest and even distribution of effort from every line on any given night.
It's the type of lineup that's difficult for opposing coaches to plan against given there are good odds the Rocket will receive contributions from a wide variety of sources.
"Our players are giving us everything they have," said head coach Jean-Francois Houle. "The effort is incredible."
There are various reasons for the sustained effort, though, two immediately come to the forefront.
The first is the chip on the Rocket's shoulder when it comes to playoff appearances.
The fact is they've maintained a winning record throughout the last seasons, but seeing as the playoffs were canceled both times, this is the first opportunity they'll have to prove they're more than just a team that can perform in the regular season.
The second is their desire to reward their loyal fans, who, by all accounts, are among the best in the League.
"[The fans] show up game after game," said Harvey-Pinard. "They're loud. They support us. Even when things aren't going perfectly, they encourage us. We really have excellent fans, and they deserve to see a long playoff run."

And while there are no doubts younger players such as Harvey-Pinard, Jesse Ylonen, and Cayden Primeau bring a certain amount of flair and excitement to the roster, it's the group of wily veterans that has managed to establish a healthy locker one, one that has united behind a communal cause.
"The veterans we acquired this year are excellent," said Ouellet. "They're players that fit perfectly with our philosophy. Even the players with only two or three years of experience in the league have adhered to the philosophy."
In typical captain fashion, Ouellet dolls out the credit to everyone on the roster, everyone but himself, but he's the driving force behind the locker room cohesion and the on-ice success, according to his head coach.
"He's an excellent leader and a good person," said Houle. "He ensures every new player feels important. He's a player that fulfills a crucial role in every situation. In my opinion, he's one of the best defencemen in the league. Our leadership is one of the main reasons we've reached this point."
It's a sentiment shared by the team's leading scorer.

"He's there for all the players, on the ice, and off the ice," said Harvey-Pinard. "He's a great captain. Honestly, we have a very good group. All the players get along very well. And since we have great chemistry in the locker room, we're seeing great chemistry on the ice. Everyone is pushing in the same direction. Everyone wants to win."
With a healthy mindset, a balanced roster, an experienced leadership group, several future NHLers, and a coach that's pushing all the right buttons, the Rocket seem to be peaking at the right time.
Though, that's certainly part of the plan.
They don't want to stumble into the playoffs.
They're dead-set on hitting the ground running.
"We want a certain identity in the playoffs," explained Houle. "Therefore we're trying to bring our game to the next level. For us, it's important to qualify for the playoffs for our fans. They support us and encourage us night after night.
"Our fans deserve playoff hockey."