Baie-Comeau wins over Quebec

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Two goals each by Raphael Bussieres and Felix Girard leads the Drakkar to a 4-2 win over the Remparts. Trailing by two points

behind Quebec before the game in the overall standing, the game itself meant a lot for the visiting team. By winning the game Baie-Comeau ranks fourth overall tied with Quebec at 49 points. But due to the fact the Drakkar has the advantage in the “goal for” category 149 to 143, Baie-Comeau ranked fourth overall.
 
For Quebec it was their fifth loss in the last six games without Mikhail Grigorenko and Nick Sorensen who play for their respective National team at the World Junior Championship in Oufa Russia.
 
Dominating 18-4 in the first period Baie-Comeau scored only one goal thanks to the Quebec goaltending performance of Francois Brassard. The game could have decided in first period if the visitor did not see Quebec netminder made several key saves in the initial period, But thanks to Brassard vigilance even if on the official scoring sheet you can read that Baie-Comeau only had two dangerous scoring chances on 18 shots on goal.
 
Found guilty of cross checking by referee Nicolas Dutill, Baie-Comeau forward Felix Girard redeemed himself by scoring the unique goal of the first period at 11:20 after coming out of penalty box. Taking a rebound shot from Petr Straka, Girard’s shot beat Quebec goalie on his glove side.
 
For one, Baie-Comeau head coach Eric Veilleux seemed confident to see his players to play a good game even if his team scored only one goal on 18 shots on goal, “Yes it could have happened,” Veilleux said.
 
“We didn’t control that, the only thing we control is the way we played and we play very good hockey right now. Sometimes it turn on your favor other times don’t. In our little slump it was the situation like that, we dominated but we lose at the end. Yes as you said it could happen sometime but it can’t happen all the times.”
 
Quebec came out playing better in middle frame scoring twice on 13 shots on goal compared to Baie-Comeau adding another goal in 20 shots. Baie-Comeau dominated 38-17 after two periods and the score was 2-2.
 
Goals by Quebec came from the stick of Axel Rioux 4:28 and recent acquisition by Quebec Anthony Verret (from Sherbrooke) 7:49.
 
The penalty taken by Quebec defenseman Stephen Midensky proved to be costly for Patrick Roy’s team since Baie-Comeau scored with 3.4 second remaining to the second period.
 
Raphael Bussieres scored his first of two goals in the game, 19^th of the regular season. Both teams retrieved to their respective locker room with the score 2-2 after two periods of play.
 
Drakkar left winger was happy to win in Quebec, “Sure it’s fun to win here, the last three or four years was really tough for us coming here, we always are motivated when we come here and winning twice here in le colisee Pepsi is always special. It was a great team effort,” continued Bussieres talking about the way his team played.
 
“We shoot 45 or 50 times (49 shots) on him, he did a real good job but at the end we found a way to win.” “The games against Quebec are always tight except for the last one, they always are tight. Games were won in last five minutes of game so tonight we stayed calm we played great hockey.”
 
The goal that made the difference in favor of the visiting team had been the result of the inability of Quebec defenseman Marc-Antoine Carrier to come out of his defensive zone. Trying to make a pass to teammate from the left corner Carrier saw the puck hit another player’s skate before Bussieres took the loose puck and beat Quebec netminder 4:20 into the third period.
 
Last goal of the game was scored in an empty net also his second of the game by Felix Girard at 19:57.
 
Trying to play with five new players in the lineup following trades made by Quebec G.M. Patrick Roy wasn’t an easy task. “W expected to have a tough start,” explained Quebec head coach Roy after the game, “We talked about it between the coaching staff before the game. We didn’t practice yesterday (winter storm), secondly it’s new for players coming from elsewhere, players were nervous. We expect to have tough start but in second portion of second period we played better.”
 
“We began to take the rhythm in second, the penalty at the end of the period cost us so it would be nice to keep the 2-1 lead. I should say our veteran should be better I don’t think they can say they were excellent tonight, we can’t point finger at the newcomers but our veteran could certainly give us more.”
 
Quebec next game will be this Sunday visiting the Sherbrooke.
 
Five other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday
Halifax 4 vs. Cape Breton 1
Moncton 1 vs. Prince Edward Island 4
Shawinigan 3 vs. Chicoutimi 4
Sherbrooke 4 vs. Gatineau 3 (shootout)
Victoriaville 1 vs. Rimouski 3
 
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