QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — With the score tied after two periods of play (2-2), Quebec came back in the third playing better leading them to 5-3 win with the last goal scored in an empty net.
Quebec regained the lead 3-2 to open the third period on Nikita Kucherov’s third of the season at 8:49 completing a great pass from teammate Mikhail Grigorenko.
Kucherov’s one-timer left no chance to Rocket goaltender Antoine Bibeau. Just prior Quebec third goal the Rocket netminder prevented Patrick Roy’s team from taking the lead with two key saves against Pierre-Maxime Poudrier.
Happy about the final result the Quebec head coach didn’t seem too happy about the way his team played defensively.
“I’m happy about the final result for sure, but defensively we gave up three goals. I don’t want to take any credit away from the Rocket, but on first goal we should pass defense to defense put the puck deep instead to have a face off in our zone. I’m sure “Grigo” Grigorenko would like to take back his error on their second goal and Culkin took a coffee cup on third one,” Roy said about the three goals scored by their opponent.
“Defensively we should be sharper but overall I’m happy about the team performances. We did great things, I’m happy about the way we moved the puck on our power play, I wasn’t happy about the Grigorenko’s line after first forty minutes but it went better in the third, they scored the go ahead goal in middle third. I’m happy about the work of the line of Poudrier (Pierre-Maxime), Frederick Bergeron and Axel Rioux (game winning goal).”
The game against Prince Edward Island marked the return of Anthony Duclair (playing only 5 games due to injury). Playing with Adam Erne and Logan Shaw, the one who wear number 10 ended the game with one goal and two assists.
“Playing with Erne and Shaw helped a lot,” said Duclair after the game. “Being able to come back almost at 100 percent was a key element for me, so since my injury I went to the gym every day to keep my cardio. I took my time before coming back because I want to be at the best shape I could.”
“We have had lots of chances to begin the game so it gave us lots of confidence,” said the left winger who missed 13 games. “Playing with Erne (Adam) and Shaw ( Logan) went well tonight and all four lines also played well tonight. Physically it was tough for the first two periods but because I have a good cardio it went well the rest of the game.”
Quebec opened the scoring with two goals playing on power play. With Rocket defenseman Jimmy Oligny in the penalty box for interference, Jason Houde got Quebec first goal beating Bibeau with a wrist shot from the slot at 13:20 of the opening stanza.
The Quebec left winger scored his second of the night less than four minutes later this time completing great play by Erne and Anthony Duclair. But with only 28 seconds remaining to the first period Prince Edward Island got on board for the first time with Victor Provencher’s eleventh of the year.
The Rocket tied the game 2-2 thanks to Quebec Russian center Grigorenko who lost the puck at his own blue line to Ben Duffy who went on breakaway seeing the puck going through Quebec netminder Francois Brassard’s pads at 6:20 of middle frame. Both teams played four-on-four.
Nikita Kucherov put Quebec ahead 3-2 giving no chance to Rocket goalie Bibeau on a one-timer on great pass from teammate Grigorenko at 8:49. P.E.I came back 1:53 seconds later bringing back both teams to square one with Rocket third goals scored by Alexis Pepin.
With both teams tied for second time in the game, Quebec replied 16 seconds later with their fourth goal. Winning the face off in the offensive zone Houde saw the P.E.I. goalie make the first save but Bibeau was unable to keep the puck out of his net when Axel Rioux took the rebound to get Quebec fourth goal.
“I’m very happy,” said Axel Rioux after scoring what became the game winning goal. “We didn’t play our best game but we worked hard all the times. We are a hard working team, so we have to work harder than the other team and it paid off tonight.”
Anthony Duclair completed the scoring with Quebec fifth goal in an empty net at 19:34.
Quebec will return in action on Sunday afternoon facing the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles.
Seven other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday
Saint John 8 vs. Sherbrooke 4
Cape Breton 1 vs. Victoriaville 7
Halifax 5 vs. Gatineau 1
Moncton 4 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 9
Chicoutimi 3 vs. Rimouski 2
Baie-Comeau 5 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 2
Acadie-Bathurst 2 vs. Shawinigan 1
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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