QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Totally dominated by Shawinigan on last meeting in Shawinigan, Quebec took their revenge winning 5-2 against the Cataractes. Taking a two-goal lead in first eight minutes in second period, Philippe Boucher’s team saw the visitors made a comeback tying the score with one goal in last portion of second period, and first portion of the third. But Quebec came back with three unanswered goals in last ten minutes of the third to seal Shawinigan fate registering 16th win of the season to remain in first place overall with 33 points.
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“I told you yesterday, we talked about it, it went well in practice,” Quebec center and Captain Matthew Boucher said. “We completed each other very well, Garneau, Boucher (as center) and Derek Gentile (on right wing). Gentile got great hands, Garneau works really hard same for me. Gentile work really hard and got tremendous talent. It went well tonight and we will try to continue that chemistry.”
“It went well, we found each other very well,” answered Quebec left winger Olivier Garneau. “We have great Chemistry and we are three guys who work hard. When you worked hard good things happened. Tonight that is what happened.” Continued the author of Quebec second goals.
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For coach Boucher, he was happy to see the line of Olivier Garneau, Matthew Boucher and Derek Gentile works the way they did the whole game.
“Yes it went well for everyone, we might have had a slot start but after that Matt’s line went very well. Garneau played well, Gentile has been really efficient and we were able to make the difference in the third.” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher
“They were dangerous but they could get more points,” continued Quebec head coach Boucher. “Denisov was very good, he was also very good here against us at the beginning of the year. He was the best QMJHL goaltender last year, he kept them in the game but they played well. “Dan” (Daniel Renaud) prepared them very well, we weren’t successful to separate from them. The worse lead in the lead is a two goals lead, we hit couple post Kirwan, Cote, and puck didn’t want to go in. It was written in the sky they would come back but I like our determination.”
After scoreless first period and going 0-in-2 with a man up, Quebec opened the scoring in shorthanded situation. Intercepting a pass from Shawinigan player, Quebec defenseman Benjamin Gagne, made great pass to teammate Jesse Sutton going on breakaway. Sutton wrist shot left no chance to Shawinigan goaltender Mikhail Danisov 2:46 into second periods.
Injured to a leg following a hit by Cataractes defenseman Simon Benoit, Quebec forward Mikael Robidoux came back in middle frame.
Quebec add a second goal in second period but not before referee Nicolas Leduc went on video. Olivier Garneau shot beat Shawinigan netminder over his right shoulder at 7:55.
Shawinigan get on board cutting Quebec lead to one goal. Left alone on Quebec netminder left side, Cataractes right winger Zachary Daneau scores his first goal of the regular season at 15:11.
Shawinigan tied the game 2-2 on long wrist shot by Cataractes defenseman Leon Denis no chance for Quebec goalie Dereck Baribeau who had been screened by players in front of him. Denis goal came at 6:19.
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Quebec captain Matthew Boucher gave back the lead to his team with his first of two goals in the third periods. A set up play beginning with a facr-0ff won led to Quebec third goals. After winning the face-off, by Boucher, Quebec defenseman Christian Huntley made pass to Derek Gentile who made pass to Quebec captain. Boucher one-timer left no chance to Cataractes netminder with 6:32 remaining in the third stanza.
The combination of Boucher, Gentile and Olivier Garneau led to Quebec fourth goals. Driving to the net, Boucher took the first shot blocked by Shawinigan netminder. Unable to keep the rebound, Derek Gentile scored his 9th of the regular season, beating Denisov over his left shoulder at 18:43.
Quebec captain Matthew Boucher came back with his second of the game scoring his 12th of the year in an empty net to complete the scoring at 19:19.
For the former assistant head coach to Philippe Boucher Daniel Renaud who decided to leave Quebec and upheld new challenge of becoming Shawinigan new head coach his team played sixty minutes and the game was tied in first portion of second periods.
“Details made the difference in the game,” answered Shawinigan head coach Daniel Renaud near team locker room after the game. “At 2-2 I think the game could turned one side or the other. Trick face-off, trick play from the other team great execution. Effort is the only thing we can control, we asked a perfect effort over sixty minutes and on that side, I think the players upheld it. After two periods scoring chances were tied 6-6. Looking the starts from the league, usually they were pretty good, shots on goal were only three more then us and scoring chances were 6-6. If Danisov made the difference, Baribeau also did it.” Cataractes head coach Renaud said.
Quebec will go on the road for next game visiting Baie-Comeau on Sunday.
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Six other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday night
Saint John 7 vs. Halifax 2
Gatineau 0 vs. Sherbrooke 6
Victoriaville 4 vs. Baie-Comeau 0
Blainville-Boisbriand1 vs. Drummondville 4
Chicoutimi 7 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 4
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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