Quebec makes it a perfect weekend

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Ranked fourth in the QMJHL standing with one point lead over the Victoriaville Tigres, Quebec completed a perfect weekend with a 6-3 win against Victoriaville on Sunday.
 

Leading 3-2 after two periods following the first goal of the night by Mikhail Grigorenko at 13:08 of second period, Quebec saw their opponent tying the game three all on Philippe Maillet 26^th goal of the year 4:10 into the third period. Bad decisions can often lead to key goal that can turn a plausible loss to victory.
 
With his team in front by one and seeing a good offensive opportunity, Mikael Tam decided to pinch trying to support the offense but instead losing the puck the Quebec captain gave a two-on-one breakaway to two of the best Tigres offensive players in Yanni Gourde and Philippe Maillet leading to Victoriaville third goal.
 
“We have little things we can do better decision making, for example, with a 3-2 lead I would preferred to see “Mich” (Mikael Tam) not pinching, you haven’t had a third forwards, so I would like better see him backing instead of pinching.” Quebec coach Patrick Roy said explaining the situation that led to Victoriaville third goal.
 
Fortunately for Quebec head coach, his team came back scoring next three goals, with first two in 5:01 span.
 
Working hard game in game out the line centered by 19 years old Jeremie Malouin with Gabriel Desjardins and Alexandre Contois were rewarded with what became the game winning goal scored by Malouin at 11:40 of the third period.
 
“They played like that since the beginning of the season,” answered Roy after seeing his number 9 scored his 13^th goal of the season. “They are inmission they work very well defensively and offensively. It was all to their honor because when we brought them here they came in new surrounding they adapted well to the team and became good leader.”
 
Alexandre Contois scores Quebec 5th goals 5:01 later with his team playing with a man advantage, the only goal scored on two power plays opportunity during the game.
 
“It was very important to win tonight because maybe these two points will give us the ice advantage in second round,” Jeremie Malouin said in the locker room after the game. “Losing our last two games against them we would like to show them we are able to give them some opposition and win the two points.
 
“It goes in better than it went in lately I will take it,” the one who registered his 13 goals in the regular season. We work hard as we worked since the beginning of the season, very happy to see our line been able to produce offensively.”
 
“It was a very good game, both teams played very well, we were very opportunistic offensively and defensively we did what we had to do.” Roy said giving his impression of the game. “Even if we gave them several scoring chances than we have had, overall I have to say that I’m happy about what I have seen.”
 
Axel Rioux gave 1-0 lead to Quebec scoring his second of the year sliding the puck under Victoriaville goaltender David Honzik after making first save on Ryan Culkin’ shot 8:06 into first period.
 
The Remparts adds a second goal to their lead 3:06 later on 18^th of the regular season by Alexandre Contois on another bad rebound.
 
Giving two goals on first 7 Quebec shots on goal, Tigres head coach Yanick Jean decided to pull his starting netminde sending Brandon Whitney for the rest of the period and the game.
 
Victoriaville broke the ice scoring their first goal of the game with only 1 second remaining to the first period. Unable to put his glove on the puck in his half circle Francois Brassard saw Tigres left winger Philippe Halley pushed the puck under Quebec right pads.
 
With Quebec leading 4-3, Victoriaville has been caught for delay of game penalty to Tigres defenseman Samuel Finn forcing the Tigres to kill their penalty instead of working to tie the game. Finn’s penalty led to Quebec 5^th goal with only 2 seconds remaining to the penalty and 3:19 left in the game.
 
Quebec sealed the victory in an empty net with Grigorenko second goal at 18:30.
 
After the game Victoriaville head coach Yannick Jean pointed his goaltenders admitting the loss was hard for them.
 
“It goaltenders loss, three bad goals we should have prevented. Very proud the way played tonight, even when we trailed by two nobody gave up, they had two goals on one good scoring chances in first period that even not been considered a true scoring chance. In third period they found a way to lose another one.”
 
“One thing, it wasn’t a do or die question,” Jean said about the standing we want to get in the playoff with the momentum we talked several times about it. Higher we finish better it will be but we won’t be depressive about it we will keep same speech it wasn’t because we lose tonight that we change the speech.”
 
Quebec next game will be next Friday hosting the Moncton Wildcats.
 
Five other games were on QMJHL schedule on Sunday
Cape Breton 1 vs. Saint John 9
Baie-Comeau 5 vs. Acadie-Bathurst 3
Shawinigan 6 vs. Moncton 0
Chicoutimi 5 vs. Gatineau 1
Drummondville 3 vs. Val-d’Or 7
  Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com