Quebec wins game two, series tied 1-1

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — In a game mostly controlled by the visitor for second time in as many nights, Quebec turned things around in 3:11 in the third period, transforming what appeared to be a second loss in the series to a 3-2 win over the Gatineau Olympiques.
 

With the score 2-1 Gatineau, with 5:00 to go in third period, the QMJHL scoring leader, John Audy-Marchessault was left alone, near Olympiques goaltender Maxime Clermont and put a rebound in the net tying the score at 2.
 
But with 2:08 remaining in the game, and a face off in visitor team zone, Quebec center Joel Champagne pushed the puck behind his opponent center Jean-Gabriel Pageau. Ryan Bourque jumped on the puck, spun and took a shot beating Clermont for the game winning goal at 18:32.
 
Asked what Quebec center man had in mind when he took the face off, Quebec veteran center Champagne said, “It’s a play we practice a lot, Ryan (Bourque) was there and support me, it wasn’t complicated he put the puck in.”
 
Besides being the author of the first goal for Quebec Champagne was selected the first star of the game, ended his night with three points (1g-2a). On the tying goal, he took the first shot on Clermont.
 
“I simply tried to put the puck on net knowing that Marchessault drove to the net and he scored,” said the veteran center Champagne when asked to describe what he tried to do on that play.”
 
On the first goal of the game Champagne went on a two-on-one trying to put the puck on net and it gets in.” Champagne explained.
 
Talking about the way the game went, the veteran center was the first to admit, that it wasn’t their best game, “I don’t think we can’t hide ourselves, we didn’t play our best game (11 shots after forty minutes), but we found a way to win. The last five minutes had been crucial for us and we came out with the win.”
 
Before the end of first period, Gatineau tied the game one goal-a-piece during a penalty to Tomas Filippi, Olympiques defenseman Nicolas Deslauriers saw his shot from the point beat Louis Domingue on his left side at 18:24.
 
A perfect pass from Olympiques captain Hubert Labrie to Igor Levitsky who only had to put the puck in an empty net for a 2-1 lead. Levitsky’s goal came with only 2:23 gone in the second period.
 
Leading by one at the beginning of second period, Gatineau continued to play their system, blocking shots, blocking passing lanes, and Clermont makingsaves when needed until last five minutes of third period.
 
“We played a good game, we had some opportunities to score the third and four goal but we didn’t do it. It’s playoff game. On the other side, they played with desperate energy, we weren’t able to do the right play at the right time. But if someone said to us, that we could come here and win one game, here, we would be happy.” Gatineau head coach Benoit Groulx said after the game.
 
“Now, we know all games will be tight one, and the least mistake could be costly one. We did good thing (keeping Quebec at 11 shots on net after two periods), maybe they were tired from their preceding series, against Shawinigan. But in Gatineau, both teams will be beneficiary of plenty of rest, so will see what happen.”
 
Gatineau seemed in control but Marchessault re-ignited the flame with the equalizing goal and Bourque with the game winning goal, his fifth goal of the series, will certainly bring back confidence in Quebec locker room.
 
“It was hugged for us to get that win,” Bourque said after his team won first victory in that series.
 
“Playing that way in third period is a momentum booster for us, that’s more the way we want to play. The way we played last night, in first two periods, wasn’t the Quebec Remparts hockey, so we just want to be better. We just want to play the kind of hockey, we know we can play, because it’s important moment in the year and time we suppose to be at our best.”
 
Quebec head coach Patrick Roy, never hesitated to describe his team’s first win as a steal.
 
“I think we stole the game tonight, we stole the game tonight and it brought usback in that series,” Roy said.   “I just hope it will give us some momentum because, we can’t say we played big game, to finding a way to win, it’s clear that it could give us confidence to show we can play with them. I think if we can step up our game it will make a difference.”
 
The series will move to the Robert Guertin arena, the home of the Gatineau Olympiques, for games three and four, next Tuesday April 26 and Wednesday April 27, before heading back to Quebec.
 
Elsewhere in the QMJHL
Lewiston 1 vs. Saint John 4 ( Saint John leads series 2-0)
 
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com