QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Two goals in a span of 2:11 in the second made the difference in leading Quebec to a 5-1 win over the Acadie-Bathurst. With that victory, Quebec ranks first overall, two points ahead of the Saint John’s Sea Dogs with two games in hand at the Christmas break.
Martin Lefebvre – photo by Serge Poulin
“You are always afraid when you lose a player like Mikhail Grigorenko (left for Russian National Junior Team on Saturday) that it could have a negative effect on your team but I think we are a team that plays with lots of heart. When we compete and work like we did today we are a team that is hard to play against,” said Quebec head coach Patrick Roy after the game.
“It was a great team victory, everyone has been super, our goaltender made key saves at key moment in the game. I’m very happy the way Louis (Domingue) reacts since he came back (being cut) from the National Junior Team, he came back here with a very great attitude ready to compete. It represents a lot for us.”
Michael McNAmee – photo by Serge Poulin
Quebec was the first team to get on the board playing four-on-four hockey. Martin Lefebvre’s shot from the blue line, following a great pass from Alexandre Contois, beat Titans goaltender Jacob Brennan top shelf at 10:40 of the opening period.
Again playing four-on-four following coincidental minor to Acadie-Bathurst Jordan Murray and Quebec Frederick Roy, Titan center Christophe Losier tied the game with a shot beating Quebec goalie low on his glove side 4:04 later.
Quebec missed two chances to break the tie when defensemen Owen Werthner and Ryan Culkin missed open nets.
Thinking they have had taken the lead 2-1 with less than six minutes gone in second period Quebec saw referee Nicholas Dutil refuse a goal after reviewing it on video saying the puck had been deflected with an intentional movement with the skate.
Owen Werthner – photo by Serge Poulin
Quebec came back later in the period scoring two goals.
Michael McNamee with his 13th of the year at 15:11 and Adam Erne with a man advantage at 17:00 beat Brennan in span of 2:11 retrieving to their locker room with a 3-1 lead after forty minutes of play.
Quebec adds two other goals in third period leading them to their second victories over the weekend. Left alone in front of Brennan, Contois beat Brennan with a backhanded shot for Quebec fourth goal of the game at 15:11. Roy completed the scoring in an empty net with a shot from his own defensive zone at 18:07. “We are the team that played most games at this time of year, we played four games this week three on the road so I think as the game went on you were able to see guys were tired. Lately we also missed lots of players, Losier
Louis Domingue – photo by Serge Poulin
Dubois didn’t agree that undisciplined play was the cause of his team’s problems (2 goals against on 9 power play opportunities).
“We took several penalties but I can’t say reacting penalties, we have been beaten by the other side speed sometimes we must hook. When you are tired, you need to be in good position on the ice. When you weren’t in good position you must rush as we say to get back in position. We have seen lots of hooking penalties today.”
Quebec will return in action on Tuesday hosting the Rimouski Oceanic.
Three other games were on schedule in the QMJHL on Sunday
Halifax 1 vs. Cape Breton 4
Saint John 5 vs. Moncton 2
Chicoutimi 5 vs. Drummondville 4
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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