QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — A power play goal by John Audy-Marchessault led Quebec to victory over Richard Martel’s team before 11,418 happy fans. While Marchessault scored the game winning goal, another player will be remembered because he scored his first QMJHL goal in his young career. Ryan Culkin the young 16-year-old defenseman scored what had been considered the game winning goal until Chicoutimi scored their third goal in the game with less than three minute remaining.
“I’m very happy, I was just trying to hit the net and it went in. It was a very good play by Browny (Matthew Brown) and it was a great screen by Axel Rioux,” said Culkin describing his first goal in the QMJHL. “I have been working hard off the ice with Gab (Gabriel Hardy Physical trainer). I don’t play as much as all the other guys but I try to do my best.”
After scoreless first period, where Quebec had two good scoring chances inside first seven minutes, the second period offered better action with three goals.
Quebec broke the ice with Tomas Filippi’s 15th goal of the season 9:16 into the middle frame. His wrist shot beat Chicoutimi goaltender Francis Desrosiers over his left shoulder. Mirko Hoefflin, the other Remparts’ European, scored Quebec’s second goal with the man-advantage.
A penalty to Vincent Montreuil for hooking at 11:09 gave a chance to the visitors an opportunity to send their power play unit out. Unable to capitalize on the first two power play chances in the opening period, Chicoutimi finally scored with 39 seconds remaining on the Montreuil penalty. Defenseman Nicholas Therrien shot from the blue line beat Quebec netminder Louis Domingue on his glove side at 12:31.
Chicoutimi tied the game at two on a breakaway when Guillaume Asselin saw the puck hit his pad. Asselin’s wrist shot hit the post before ricocheting off Domingue back and in with only 4:33 gone in third period.
Quebec regained the lead when Culkin took a rebound shot from Matthew Brown and beat Sagueneens netminder low on his glove side at 10:09 of the third period.
Quebec head coach was please for his young defenseman after the game.
“He is a good player, and sincerely he is a guy who works extremely hard off the ice. For me, he makes me think of Marc-Edward Vlasic. I’m not comparing their play on the ice but as far as the way he works off the ice, very discipline. We don’t have to forgot that last year he played midget so it was a big step, he continue to progress, he got a great attitude I’m happy for him,” Patrick Roy said, about his underage defenseman.
With Chicoutimi forward Enrik Guillemette in the penalty box for hooking at 11:32, John Audy-Marchessault beat Sagueneens netminder on his right side at 12:43 for what became the game winning goal for Quebec 21st victory of the season. Alexandre Lavoie scored Chicoutimi third goal at 17:05 to complete the scoring for the night.
About the game Quebec head coach seem happy about his team performance but he would like to see his players being able to score the killing goal in the opportune time, he would like to see his players to score the back breaker goal when it count the most more often.
“We didn’t play a bad game, we did good things, but I found we didn’t put the puck in, in an opportune time, the killer goal, the goal that can give your team a good lead,” Roy said.
On the other side Chicoutimi head coach Richard Martel took a long pause before answering first question.
“I don’t know, Desrosiers (Francis) played well tonight, he was solid in front of his net. We played good first period we came out better than our last game in Lewiston,” Martel said. “Players made some adjustment but like it used to be here in Quebec, I don’t know if they will build a new one but as it used to be since the season began, it’s almost impossible for any team here.”
“I don’t know what it is in the air the visiting team is in the penalty box more often but I can’t say what, I don’t think you have any phantom here for that but it is like that all the time. We knew that, we practice our shorthanded unit; we always practice our penalty killing unit before coming here. You always have a penalty that you don’t know where that coming out (referring to a penalty to Gabriel Guillemette for roughing at 6:48) Guillemette with the crowd the intensity of the game, it’s always like that. What do you want me to say?” ended Martel.
Quebec will have a day off Saturday before going to Rimouski facing the Oceanics on Sunday afternoon.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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