QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. – For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, the Quebec Remparts won a game in one of toughest buildings in the Robert Guertin arena. Center Joel Champagne, with two goals, one in second, and the game winning goal in third period, pushed Gatineau to the verge of elimination.
After seeing Gatineau come out winning the game of the semi-final series, Quebec has won the last three games, the last two on the road, taking a 3-1 lead in the only series still playing.
Saint John eliminated Lewiston in four straight games in the other semi-final.
After playing almost 32:00 minutes without a score, fans in the building saw both coaches, Patrick Roy and Benoit Groulx, playing chess games making line changes trying to win the battle of lines.
Making lots of adjustments on the system Quebec proved they can win a defensive battle too.
Known more for their offensive capabilities, Roy entered the building that had a reputation of being tough to win in and trying to beat Gatineau at their own game. As was the case since that series began each game had been decided by only one goal, game four wasn’t any different.
Without being really superior to his opponent Maxime Clermont, Quebec goaltender Louis Domingue, made the difference in key moments, whether to keep his team in the game or giving an opportunity to his teammates to go on the offense when they got the chances.
Quebec broke Gatineau perfect record when the Olympiques scored the first goal in the game on Tuesday night when they defeated the Olympiques after seeing them open the scoring. Gatineau record had been 7-0 after scoring first.
For the second time, Gatineau opened the scoring and, at the end, they found themselves on the losing end.
Being in a shorthanded situation with teammate Raphael Lafontaine in the box, Jean-Gabriel Pageau got the puck from Mathieu Gagnon and beat Domingue with a shot that went over his right shoulder at 12:36 of second period.
Quebec tied the game 1:36 later on same Lafontaine penalty when Quebec veteran center Joel Champagne saw his wrist shot being deflected on Gatineau defenseman Adam Janosik skates, before beating the Olympiques goaltender between his pads.
The game was tied after forty minutes of play mostly due to missing opportunities by Gatineau players in first twenty minutes.
Besides being good in game four, the Gatineau goaltender was lucky too, when he saw a shot from Quebec right winger Alexandre Grenier, beat him between his pads, but instead of going in, the puck hit the post.
The game winning goal was scored at even strength with the second of the game by Champagne at 12:17 in third period.
Forgotten in the slot, the veteran, let a precise shot go, beating Clermont and braking the tie and later giving Quebec their third win in the series.
Gatineau will come to Quebec on Friday April 29, with the task of forcing game six at home on Sunday, if not, Quebec will earn its place in the QMJHL final facing the best QMJHL team over the regular season, the Saint John Sea Dogs who swept Lewiston MAINEiacs in four straight games in the other semi-final series.
Other series in the QMJHL
Saint John 6 vs. Lewiston 5 ( Saint John wins series 4-0)
Contact Serge.Poulin@prohockeynews.com
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