QUEBEC CITY P.Q. — With their 5-4 shootout victory last Thursday March 4th against Victoriaville Tigres, the Quebec Remparts officialized their Eastern divisional championship. Like Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (Western division champion), Drummondville Voltigeurs (Central divisional champion) and Saint John Sea Dogs (Atlantic division champion) Remparts will have the chance to begin first playoff series in their building in Quebec.
Quebec played two other games over the weekend, in Gatineau against the Olympiques, in the Robert-Guertin Arena (losing 5-3) and completed their three games in four nights, on Sunday afternoon March 7, winning 6-1 against Chicoutimi Sagueneens.
Back in Victoriaville on March 4th, the Tigres took a 3-1 lead after the first twenty minutes of play, with first two goal from Tomas Kubalik his 31st and 32nd of the season, inside first 4:16 seconds. Quebec came back 1:04 seconds later with their first goal of the game. Danick Paquette with his 30th of the year cut Victoriaville lead in half.
The Tigres regained their two goal leads when Trevor McIsaac beat Quebec netminder Antoine Tardif. Seeing his goaltender being beaten for third times in 13 shots, Remparts head coach Patrick Roy, decided to pull the plug on his starting netminder, sending Louis Domingue at 13:49 in first period.
Both teams traded goals in second period. Victoriaville left winger Chris Doyle scored Tigres fourth goals in the game at 16:27, but again like they did in first period Quebec came back 2:27 second later when Olivier Hinse beat Antonio Mastropietro at 18:54. Victoriaville was in control of the game leading by two (4-2).
But with two goals in third period Maxime Gravel (5:17) and Mikhail Stefanovich (15:41), Quebec forced both teams to play an extra period. Without being able to score, they needed shootout to find a winner. After making saves against Dmitry Kugryshev and Martin Lefebvre, Victoriaville goalie Mastropietro was unable to stop former teammates Olivier Hinse, leading his new team to 5-4 shootout win.
Quebec leaded 45- 33 in shots on goal. Quebec was 0-5 on their power play. Victoriaville was 0-2.
On Friday March 5th, Quebec went to Robert-Guertin Arena facing the Gatineau Olympiques, with new head coach John Chabot replacing Jerome Dupont, who resigned couple days before. New head coach often mean new attitude, players want to prove something to their new coach. The Olympiques won 5-3 against Quebec Remparts.
After seeing the visitor taking a 1-0 lead with Danick Paquette 31st of the season at 4:18 of the opening period, Gatineau came back strong with next two goals, ending with a 2-1 lead after first twenty minutes. Denis Kindl (5:33) and Christian Ouellet (14:26) scored for the home team.
After scoreless second period, the Olympiques won the batlle, having the last word, in trading goals with Quebec. Vincent Barnard with a man advantage, gave Gatineau first two goals lead in the game with his 11th of the year at 1:19. Quebec captain Marc-Olivier Vallerand also on a power play, cut Olympiques lead, to one goal beating Gatineau netminder Maxime Clermont at 17:27.
Gatineau came back regaining their two goals lead, when Olivier Croteau with one of his teammates in the penalty box, scored a shorthanded goal at 18:16. John-Audy Marshesseault replied only 24 seconds later, with Quebec third and last goal in the game for them, on a power play at 18:30. Denis Kindl completed Gatineau offensive for the night, in an empty net at 19:21.
Gatineau shots 33 times on Louis Domingue, Quebec shots 32 on Maxime Clermont. Quebec ended 2-8 with a man advantage, Gatineau ended with 1-5.
Quebec ended their three games in four nights with 6-1 wins over Chicoutimi Sagueneens.
Danick Paquette (13:48) with a man advantage, and Martin Lefebvre (17:16) gave Quebec a 2-0 lead after one period beating Robin Gusse two times on seven shots. Louis Domingue was flawless on nine Chicoutimi shots.
Quebec adds to their lead scoring the only goal in second period when Mikhail Stefanovich scored at 4:54.
Alexandre Roy was the only one, to beat Quebec goaltender preventing Louis Domingue of his possible shutout at 1:07 of last period. Marc-Olivier Vallerand on a power play (6:12), Olivier Hinse (7:05) and Paquette with his second of the game at 9:22, also on a power play, completed Quebec offensive for the night.
The Remparts will complete the regular season with last two games at home on Friday March 12 against Rimouski Oceanic, and Sunday March 14 against Baie-Comeau Drakkar.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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