QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — After needing to go into a shootout last night, before winning the first game against the Sagueneens, Quebec won the rematch 3- 2 in regulation time over Chicoutimi. After seeing Mikhail Grigorenko end the game the night before with three assists, it was the other Quebec European, Nick Sorensen, who ended as Quebec’s best performer with two assists in the second game.
The night seemed promising for the visiting team in the second game in as many nights for Marc-Etienne Hubert’s players when Chicoutimi opened the scoring with only 14 seconds gone in the opening period. Guillaume Asselin the former Montreal Junior who had been traded for Louis Leblanc beat Quebec goaltender Francois Brassard to give a 1-0 to the visitor.
Ending the night with two goals on five power play opportunities Quebec didn’t wasted their first chance with a man-advantage. Adam Erne put the puck behind Chicoutimi goaltender Francis Desrosiers who tended the goal for the whole game completing his night of work making 23 saves on 26 Quebec shots. Erne goal came at 2:02 in first period.
Quebec took the lead for the first time in over six periods when veteran defenseman and future captain Mikael Tam completed a great play from two Quebec European players Nick Sorenson and Mikhail Grigorenko at 14:41. Quebec second goals came also with a man advantage during a penalty to Chicoutimi left winger Charles Hudon, who had been sent to penalty box being guilty of cross checking at 13:05.
Quebec scored another goal, their first at even strength, taking a two-goal lead (3-1) when another young player, the fans in Quebec will learn to adore when they will see him express his ability as hockey player. Anthony Duclair scored the Remparts third goal, a goal that became later the game winning goal, less than three minute later at 17:12 also in the opening period.
After shutting out the opponent in first twenty minutes, the Quebec netminder Brassard was almost perfect the rest of the game being beaten only once in last 17 Chicoutimi shots over the last forty minutes. Asselin (Guillaume) was the only one to find a hole in Brassard armor scoring Sagueneens second goal at 17:27 of second period.
Brassard who earned Quebec Remparts head coach confidence by his performances, since the beginning of training camp, won his battle over Jimmy Appleby (last year backup traded to Baie-Comeau) and Derek Clavet for the backup job to Louis Domingue. The Gatineau Quebec native who had been the main man between the pipes of the Lac St-Louis Lions (Midget AAA) shut the door in third period blocking all Chicoutimi five shots against him. Brassard ended the night making 21 saves on Chicoutimi 23 shots.
Other pre-season games on Friday nights were
Moncton 2 vs. Cape Breton 5
Acadie-Bathurst 4 vs. Halifax 10
Victoriaville 1 vs. Drummondville 4
Rimouski 3 vs. Baie-Comeau 2
Gatineau 2 vs. Shawinigan 3 Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.