QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Already leading their first round series 2-0 against Val-d’Or Foreurs, the Quebec Remparts took serious control of their series shutting out their opponent by the score of 9-0. Alexandre Grenier with a hat trick (3-0), Mirko Hoefflin (1g-2a), Frederick Roy (1g-2a) and John Audy-Marchessault (0g-3a) were the offensive leaders in Quebec third wins of the series.
Quebec came to Val-d’Or with the intention of continuing their domination.
Scoring six goals on 12 power play opportunities in game two of the first round series, Quebec head coach Patrick Roy wanted to see his team play better at even strength.
Quebec didn’t waste time scoring five goals, four inside first 2:51.
Val-d’Or head coach Marc-Andre Dumont pulled his young starting netminder (16year old) Francois Tremblay after seeing him being beaten three times in first six shots. Jacob Gervais-Chouinard allowed two other goals on seven shots before the end of first twenty minutes.
Quebec ended first period scoring their five goals on ten shots. Four of them were scored at even strength.
Mirko Hoefflin beat Tremblay for Quebec’s first goal 16 seconds into the game. Behind Tremblay’s net, Quebec forward John Audy-Marchessault found Hoefflin left alone in the slot, giving no chance to Foreurs goaltender.
Olivier Hinse completed a great passing exchange between Ryan Bourque and Frederic Roy in a three-on-two breakaway for Quebec second goal at 9:25. Alexandre Grenier made Quebec 3-0 lead with first of three goals night.
Hinse’s wrist shot beats Val-d’Or netminder high on Tremblay left side, exactly one minute after first Quebec goal. After allowing three goals on Quebec first six shots, Val-d’Or head coach Marc-Andre Dumont, pulled his starting goaltender Francois Tremblay, sending Jacob Gervais-Chouinard.
Quebec center Joel Champagne welcomed Gervais-Chouinard with Quebec’s fourth goal of the opening period beating him on his left side at 11:16.
Exactly one minute later Roy, with Foreurs defenseman Carl Tatonetti in the box for tripping, pushed the puck behind Gervais-Chouinard for Quebec’s fifth goal.
Val-d’Or best moment in second period came during a five-on-three power play. Tomas Filippi and Roy were in the box for Quebec. Quebec goaltender Louis Domingue had been solid all period long making 11 saves. Gervais-Chouinard made seven saves.
Quebec led 20- 18 in shots on goal department after two periods.
After seeing Quebec add two more goals in first 2:35 in third period, Val-d’Or head coach Dumont sent back Francois Tremblay who left the game in first period after allowing three goals on first Quebec six shots.
Grenier with his second of the night beat Foreurs netminder, with a slap shot on his left side, with only 1:00 gone in the period. Grenier completed his hat trick redirecting a wrist shot, by Quebec defenseman Ryan Culkin from the blue line, 2:35 into third period, signaling the end of the night for Gervais-Chouinard. Dumont, the Foreurs head coach, sent Tremblay back in the game. Gervais-Chouinard left the game after giving up 4 goals on 18 shots.
Quebec ended their night, scoring two more goals, one with a man advantage (third in four power play opportunities), and the last one at even strength.
Jordan Lavalle redirected a shot by center Matthew Brown at 17:17 for Quebec eighth goals. And with 1:58 remaining in the third period Quebec defenseman Vincent Barnard tip in a shot by Roy for Remparts ninth goals of the night.
Quebec will have the chance to eliminate Val-d’Or tonight, facing the Foreurs in the Air Creebec Center.
Other first round series in QMJHL
Saint John 5 vs. Cape Breton 1
Montreal 2 vs. Halifax 0
Shawinigan 3 vs. Prince Edward Island 0
Lewiston 4 vs. Moncton 2
Drummondville 5 vs. Chicoutimi 3
Gatineau 4 vs. Rimouski 7
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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