QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Coming back for the fourth time in game two of their best-of-seven semifinal series, the Rimouski Oceanic return home for next three games leading the series 2-0 thanks to a 5-4 win over the Halifax Mooseheads on Saturday.
Being shutout in three previous power plays in game, Rimouski took advantage of their fourth opportunities with a man up to score the goal that made the difference in their favor.
Jerome Gauthier-Leduc’s shot finds a tiny hole between Halifax goaltender Zachary Fucale glove side and the left post giving the lead to Rimouski for the first time in that game.
For the second time in as many series, Halifax team found themselves in same situation or almost. Yes the Mooseheads lost first two games of a series, but against Quebec in quarterfinal the first two Halifax loses were on the road. In the semifinal series against Rimouski, the team coach by Dominic Ducharme lost first two games at home with next three on the road.
Halifax showed character by winning four straight games after losing first three (two in Quebec and first in Halifax metro Centre) in preceding series but it will be interesting to see how the team will react.
Looking to dictate the tempo of the game Halifax took the lead twice in the opening period but each times Rimouski came back trying the score. Both teams returned to their respective locker room with the score tied 2-2.
Trailing 1- 0 in the series after losing game one on Friday night against Rimouski, Halifax opened the scoring with just 58 seconds gone in the first period. A shot from Mooseheads defenseman Konrad Abeltshauser from the blue line beat Jacob Gervais-Chouinard low on his left side.
Being one of the players responsible for Quebec elimination in quarterfinal round Mosseheads netminder Zachary Fucale frustrated some Oceanic forwards. Trying to beat Mooseheads goalie low on his glove side Fucale made the save with his right pad on Oceanic forward Jakub Culek.
Halifax missed a golden opportunity when Rimouski goalie Jacob Gervais-Chouinard made key save stopping Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin on 2-on-0 breakaway.
Peter Trainor from top face off circle on a one-timer giving no chance to Halifax netminder beating Fucale at 11:21.
Halifax regained the lead 2:02 later on a perfect tape-to-tape pass from Alexandre Grenier to Andrew Ryan. The puck find tiny hole between Gervais-Chouinard glove and right post for Mooseheads 2nd goal.
Rimouski came back again tying the score 1:22 later on first goal of playoff by Jean-Philippe Mathieu on great pass from Alex Belzile.
Allowing Rimouski tying goal in second half of first period, Halifax began the second frame having to kill a 5-on-3 Oceanic power play for 27 seconds, following penalties to Mosseheads defensemen Trey Lewis for roughing and Abeltshauser for delay of game.
Fortunately for Halifax fans their favorites successfully killed the two men penalties.
Best Rimouski scoring chance in middle frame came from the stick of Alexandre Tanguay who missed a glorious opportunity when he tried to beat Mooseheads netminder top corner. The Oceanic got the advantage in shots on goal 25-14.
After scoreless second periods teams traded goals to begin the third period. Nathan MacKinnon first of two goals in the period gave Halifax the lead for third times in game. The young 16 years old took a rebound from Jonathan Drouin with only 39 seconds gone into the third periods and put it behind Gervais-Chouinard giving Halifax a 3-2 lead.
Rimouski tied the game 3-3 on Jean-Francois Plante 4th of the playoff taking a rebound from Peter Straka to beat Fucale on blocker side at 1:54.
MacKinnon gave a 4-3 lead to Halifax with a one-timer in top corner at 5:00. But only 32 seconds later Rimouski came back tying the score for the fourth times in game. After missing his shot Rimouski left winger Jacub Culek saw the puck slides between Fucale’ pads, for Oceanic 4th goal.
Alexandre Grenier’s penalty with 2:49 left on the scoreboard proved to be costly for Dominic Ducharme team when Rimouski took advantage of Mooseheads penalty to take the lead for the first time, leading them, to victory in game two of best of seven semifinal series in Halifax.
Jerome Gauthier-Leduc slap shot beat Mooseheads goaltender on his glove side at 19:04 of the third periods leading the visitor to 5-4 win against Halifax.
Next game in that series will be next Tuesday April 24th. Game two of the other semifinal between Chicoutimi and Saint John will be on Sunday afternoon.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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