Laval Rocket Host Struggling Springfield Thunderbirds at Place Bell Friday

The 25-point gap separating these two Atlantic Division clubs tells most of the story heading into Friday night at Place Bell. Laval enters this one riding the high of a clinched playoff berth, while Springfield is still grinding for positioning with every road point carrying real weight.

The Stakes at Place Bell

Laval's 38-19-2-3 record and 81 points put the Rocket firmly in control of their season, and Wednesday's 5-1 victory over the Penguins delivered the moment they had been building toward: a clinched playoff spot. That result also pushed Laval to 4-2-0-0 in March, a month in which they are averaging 3.2 goals per game while allowing just 2.7. The combination of offensive depth and a defense that has tightened as the calendar flips deeper into the season makes them a difficult host.

Springfield, sitting at 24-27-6-2 with 56 points, comes in playing for playoff breathing room. InsideTheRink's preview framed the dynamic precisely, describing the Thunderbirds as "playing for playoff breathing room and hoping to steal points on" the road trip, though that sentence was truncated in the source. The contrast is the defining lens for this matchup: one team celebrating, the other scrapping.

Springfield's Recent Form

The Thunderbirds are not coming in cold. Last weekend they collected five out of a possible six points across three games, a run that started with an overtime loss to Providence before they bounced back to win 6-3 against Utica and then 4-3 against Providence. Two wins out of three with that kind of scoring output suggests Springfield has found some offensive rhythm at the right time of the season.

The head-to-head record adds a small but relevant piece of confidence for the visitors. In the only meeting between these teams earlier this season, Springfield won, scoring three goals to Laval's one. That 3-1 result is the sole data point in the series this year, and it shows the Thunderbirds are capable of suppressing Laval's offense when things go right.

Springfield Players to Watch

Chris Wagner sits at the center of everything Springfield does offensively. He leads the Thunderbirds in both points and goals with 34 points and 22 goals on the season, making him the primary threat Laval's defense will need to account with Wagner projected on the top line alongside Kaskimaki and Dean.

On the blue line, Calle Rosen has become one of the most productive defensemen on the roster since his arrival. He leads Springfield in assists with 26, and 20 of those have come since joining the Thunderbirds, a rate that reflects his impact as a distributor from the back end. Juraj Pekarcik adds 21 assists of his own, giving Springfield legitimate secondary production to complement Wagner's scoring. Quinton Burns leads the team in plus/minus at plus-two, a modest number that nonetheless stands as the team's best on a squad that has faced a difficult season overall.

Laval's Dominant Roster

The gap in individual statistics between the two clubs is stark. Laurent Dauphin leads the Rocket in points with 59, ranking him fourth in the entire AHL. He also leads Laval with 44 assists, a total that places him second in the league. Dauphin's ability to generate offense and set up teammates makes him the engine of the Laval attack, and with Springfield's goaltending depth still uncertain between Zherenko and Cranley, containing him will be the game's central challenge for the Thunderbirds.

Alex Belzile leads Laval in goals with 26 and is tied for third among active players in the league in that category. Projected on the top line alongside Farrell and Roy, Belzile gives the Rocket a finisher to match Dauphin's playmaking. Meanwhile, Marc Del Gaizo's plus-27 on defense is not just a team-leading figure; it reflects a blue line that has consistently kept Laval on the right side of the ice-time and territorial battle.

Projected Lines

Springfield enters with these projected forward combinations:

• Kaskimaki–Dean–Wagner
• McGing–Bordeleau–Romano
• Pekarcik–Thomas–Peterson
• Robertsson–Stancl–Kessy

Defense pairs project as:

• Rosen–Gaudet
• Burns–Skinner
• Buchinger–Getz

Goaltenders: Zherenko, Cranley

Laval's projected forward lines:

• Farrell–Belzile–Roy
• Davidson–Beck–Mesar
• Blais–Condotta–Thorpe
• Arseneau–Xhexaj–Tuch

Defense pairs:

• Engstrom–Reinbacher
• Trudeau–Clurman
• Del Gaizo–Jacobs

Goaltenders: Kahkonen, Shepard

Keys to the Matchup

Springfield's best path to a result runs through replicating what worked in the earlier meeting this season: limit Laval to one goal, keep Wagner involved on the top line, and use Rosen's playmaking from the blue line to generate secondary opportunities. The five-of-six point weekend demonstrates the offense is capable of producing.

For Laval, a team that has already locked up its playoff status and is averaging over three goals per game in March, the motivation shifts partly toward building momentum and sharpening systems before the postseason. Del Gaizo's plus-27 anchors a defense that, combined with the offensive firepower of Dauphin and Belzile, gives the Rocket significant structural advantages at home.

Game Information

Friday's game at Place Bell tips off at 7:00 PM EST and airs on FLO Sports. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

Following this contest, Springfield heads to Belleville to face the Senators on March 21, turning around quickly for a game with immediate playoff implications. Laval has a longer rest window ahead, not playing again until March 25 when the Utica Comets visit Place Bell.