QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Already having the best start under Patrick Roy’s guidance, Quebec tied their best regular season debut (5-0-0-0) since 1997 winning 2-1 over the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. After trading goals in the first forty minutes, Remparts center Kurt Etchegary made the difference in the third period with his third goal of the season.
Playing their third games in the last four nights Quebec (the only undefeated team in QMJHL) came to Chicoutimi (2-2-1) trying to keep their record intact for a fifth consecutive games.
After making great saves against Quebec forwards Nick Sorensen and Axel Rioux in the first seven minutes of first period, Francis Desrosiers the Chicoutimi goaltender was unable to do anything on Martin Lefebvre’s wrist shot beating the Sagueneens goalie high on Desjardins right side at 12:29.
Dominated in shots on goals by their opponent 15-9 Chicoutimi ended first period and began the second one having a two-men-advantage. With Mikhail Grigorenko being penalized for hocking, Axel Rioux joined his teammates in the box for tripping giving the Sagueneens a five-on-three power play for 10.8 seconds to end the period and beginning the second with 15 seconds remaining to Grigorenko and 1:49 to Rioux penalty.
Unfortunately the team coached by Marc-Etienne Hubert was unable to take advantage of this opportunity to tie the game.
Already being 0-2 following a double man advantage to begin the second period Chicoutimi didn’t miss on their third power play opportunity.
Defenseman Mathieu Gagnon brought both teams back to square one, with his first of the year, tying the score one goal apiece. Gagnon’s shot from the blue line deflected before beating Quebec goalie Francois Brassard between his pads with 8:18 remaining.
As often happens in the world of hockey when team missed an opportunity on one side of the ice, the other team score. That’s exactly what happened on Quebec second goal.
After seeing his goaltender Brassard make a key glove save on Sagueneens defenseman Mathieu Gagnon, Quebec regained the lead 2-1 on one-timer by Remparts center Kurt Etchegary following great pass by Brandon Shea at 2:22.
Quebec next two games will be at home hosting the Victoriaville Tigres on Friday night. The Rimouski Oceanic will face Quebec on Saturday.
Three other games were on QMJHL schedule on Tuesday
Acadie-Bathurst 2 vs. Halifax 6
Val-d’Or 1 vs. Shawinigan 5
Sherbrooke 1 vs. Victoriaville 5
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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