Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
If Raphael Lavoie he still has a few goals under his belt, the Henderson Silver Knights will definitely take them.
Lavoie, of course, has been one of the AHL’s most dangerous shooters for several years now. But he peaked his production this season at the age of 25. Lavoie, who played in 45 regular season games for Henderson, finished with 30 goals and 56 points. He had three more goals in Henderson’s series-opening sweep of the San Jose Barracuda.
But now the Silver Knights run into the Colorado Eagles, an opponent that can handle even the best offenses in the league. The Eagles have held Lavoie scoreless in three playoff contests so far and could eliminate the Silver Knights in Game 4 of the series-clinching finals on Saturday night.
After the teams split the first two games of the series on Henderson ice, Colorado hit hard Wednesday night with a 4-0 victory in which the Silver Knights produced just 20 shots on goal. It was the second shutout of the series and third of the season against Henderson Trent Miner and the Eagle.
Henderson also had to go without a high puck distributor to a defender Dylan Coghlanwho has been returned to the Vegas Golden Knights for the past two games. Another danger, ahead Matyas Sapovalivmissed Game 3. Sapovaliv had 18 goals in his second AHL season.
There weren’t many nights like that for Lavoie or Henderson’s teammates. The Silver Knights finished first in the AHL in scoring at 3.65 goals per game and on the power play (26.0 percent).
Split Lavoie’s numbers any which way, and that split is staggering. At one point, he tallied 24 goals in 26 games. He had a 16-game hitting streak between March 11 and April 14, tied for the third-longest in the AHL this season, in which he accumulated 29 points, including 16 goals. His 13 goals in 14 games in March, the highest monthly tally by an AHL player since April 2022, earned him the Fortune Tires “Expect More” AHL Player of the Month.
Most of all, Henderson went from eighth place in the Pacific Division and six points out of the playoffs at the AHL All-Star break to a team that rose to third place. They then swept the San Jose Barracuda to open the season to get this game against Colorado.
Henderson isn’t the first team to have problems with Colorado. The Eagles held the San Diego Gulls to one goal in two games to sweep the first round. Colorado is an experienced, puck-hungry team that can move together to cover the ice and rush opponents into fouls. It is clear that the Silver Knights have some changes to make in Game 4.
But the Silver Knights, who went 22-3-1-3, have their reasons for optimism, starting with Lavoie. His release is among the best in the AHL, he has a dangerous shot option, and he can eat the puck and keep opponents off balance.
And there are many candidates to take some of his pressure. Tanner Laczynski was an AHL All-Star Second Team. Mitch McLain, Ben Hemmerling again Kai Uchacz they have all scored 20 goals this season, but have yet to find the back of the net on the road. Rookie Trevor Connelly has 49 points in 46 games. Braeden Bowman. Alexander Holtz. Jonas Røndbjerg. A skilled back end that includes Lukas Cormier again Jeremy Davies. Threats come in succession, and it’s always difficult to completely shut down that kind of depth for very long.
Perhaps the most dangerous thing about this group is how quickly these players can knock down enemies. When they won six games in March they scored 37 goals. They had eight games with six or more goals below par. They are able to cut off opposing plays in their zone and quickly counter attack.
“Everybody’s playing with a lot of confidence,” Lavoie said, “and we’re making plays.
“We sound good defensively. It’s hard to play against them, and we take advantage of our opportunities when we get them.”
They get at least one more chance on Saturday to make their point.
In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league’s top scorer in 2016.
