QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — After a so-so performance last Friday against Shawinigan in a 4-1 losing effort, Quebec played much better on Sunday afternoon in Baie-Comeau in a 4-1 win over Drakkar. Joel Champagne and 19-year-old Alexandre Grenier led the Quebec offense ending the game with one goal and one assist each.
A penalty to Baie-Comeau forward David Bajanik for hooking at 14:08 gave Quebec an opportunity to send out their power play unit, the best in the league at 30.6 percent before the game. Remparts defenseman Mikael Tam redirected a shot taken by Grenier behind Drakkar goaltender Jason Massiaen for Quebec’s first goal at 14:51 in the opening period.
The first period ended with Quebec leading 1-0 and on the shots on goal 9-8.
Quebec dominated the second period getting great scoring opportunities and adding two goals to their lead and led 25- 17 in shots on goal (16- 9 in second period). Able to cut the lead to two goals, Baie-Comeau benefitted from the goalie work of Messiaen who made great saves preventing Quebec from adding to their lead.
Quebec padded their lead when Joel Champagne beat Messiaen over his left shoulder, with a wrist shot 4:02 into second period becoming the Remparts third 20-goal scorer behind Ryan Bourque and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault.
Grenier scored Quebec’s third goal mystifying Baie-Comeau defenseman before beating Drakkar goaltender with a backhanded shot at 9:56. For Grenier, it was his fourth goal in his last six games.
Raphael Bussieres scored first Baie-Comeau goal deflecting a shot taken by Lukas Cingel beating Quebec goaltender Louis Domingue over his right shoulder 1:33 after Grenier.
Quebec regained their three goal lead 1:34 into third period. Remparts left winger Frederick Roy in a two-on-one break with defenseman Vincent Barnard and wristed a shot that went in beating Baie-Comeau goaltender high on the left side for Quebec’s fourth goal.
Baie-Comeau goaltender ended the game making 30 saves on 34 shots; Louis Domingue made 21 saves on 22 shots.
Quebec scored one power play goal in three attempts; Baie-Comeau ended 0-2. The first star went to Quebec forward Grenier, the second star to Baie-Comeau center Felix Girard and the third star to Quebec left winger Roy.
Quebec will end their sequence of four games on the road playing the Gatineau Olympiques at the Robert Guertin Arena next Wednesday January 12 at 19:30 pm.
Other games in the QMJHL
Gatineau 5 vs. Montreal 3
Chicoutimi 3 vs. Drummondville 2 (overtime)
Val-d’Or 2 vs. Shawinigan 3 (overtime)
Rimouski 2 vs. Moncton 1 (Shootout)
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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