QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Coming out on the losing end in front of their fans against Moncton on Friday night the Shawinigan Cataractes came to Quebec hoping for the win. Offering a great spectacle the 9,149 in attendance returned home seeing their favorites lose in a shootout, 4-3 against the Cataractes.
Recently returned to his junior team by the Montreal Canadiens, the Shawinigan Captain ended his night of work with three points (2 goals).
Photo by Serge Poulin
“I want to help the team as soon as possible it’s a big year for our team. Each game is important for us and I want to help the team to win so that’s why I want to play as soon as I can.”
Bournival has played four games with the Cataractes since his return earning three first stars, one second star, scoring nine goals, originally been drafted by the Colorado Avalanche in third round (71st overall) in 2010 (traded to Montreal Canadiens for Ryan O’Byrne) talked about the importance of the year for him.
“It’s important, I’m 19-years old, and I want to help the team to win every game I bring the intensity on the ice.”
For the Shawinigan head coach, Eric Veilleux, the game was an exciting one for the fans, but for his part, he said, “I liked the way we played in shorthanded situations, the player’s commitment to block shots. We moved the puck better in power play situations, we changed several things lately.”
Teams traded goals in the opening period with Quebec breaking the ice with 13:59 gone in the period. Being patient after seeing Shawinigan goaltender making the first save on Axel Rioux, Michael McNamee beat Alex Dubeau high on his stick side.
Shawinigan replied less than 4:00 later with the first of two goals for the night by Bournival. The Shawinigan Captain deflected a shot from the blue line by Michael Gagnon, for the visitor first goal.
With the score tied after twenty minutes, a major penalty for a check from behind to Shawinigan defenseman Justin Hache on Quebec rookie Kurt Etchegary, should have been an excellent opportunity for Quebec to regain the lead.
Instead of taking advantage of the situation, Quebec saw their opponent scoring in shorthanded situation. Quebec netminder Louis Domingue seemed surprised by the shot, coming from along the left side board by Bournival beating Quebec goalie, between his pads at 8:03.
If Alex Dubeau closed the door on Quebec several great scoring opportunities during that same five minutes to Hache, the Cataractes netminder wasn’t able to do anything on Quebec second goal of the game, also scored, during another man advantage on a penalty to Cataractes Captain Bournival.
Photo by Serge Poulin
Mikhail Grigorenko, who passed in front of Dubeau, deflected a shot from the blue line by Quebec defenseman Martin Lefebvre, at 13:55.
Already being shorthanded, trying to kill a penalty to defenseman Owen Werthner for roughing, Quebec head coach, Patrick Roy saw one of his players Jeremie Malouin, sent to the penalty box for delay of game giving a five-on-three power play situation to Shawinigan.
Shawinigan didn’t waste time scoring with 22 seconds remaining to the second period, taking 3-2 lead after forty minutes of play.
Quebec came back in third period tying the game, also being on a power play. Veteran forward Frederick Roy put the puck behind Cataractes goaltender, bringing both teams back to square one.
Before allowing the goal, referee Jean-Philippe Sylvain, needed to go to the video, to be sure, the puck hasn’t been hit over the crossing bar by the Quebec left winger, before confirming Remparts third goal. As they used to say after reviewing a goal, after further review goal is good. That leads both teams to play an overtime period where the Shawinigan goaltender, made several key saves forcing both teams to go in shootout.
Unfortunately for Quebec fans, after seeing Domingue make the save on Shawinigan forwards Aton Zlobin and Bournival and on the other side Dubeau stops Alexandre Contois, Mikhail Grigorenko and Michael McNamee, Peter Sakaris ended the suspense putting the puck behind Quebec goalie for the victory.
Even if his team came out on losing end in what was a great game, Quebec head coach Patrick Roy didn’t seem unhappy about his team performance.
“We are happy about our performances; our players answered the challenge in front of them in a good way. Sure we missed the victory but I think you can find lots of positive things about the game. We played against a good team that came out of day off after playing on Friday, so both teams were equal, it’s good for us.”
Other games in QMJHL
Acadie-Bathurst 2 vs. Baie-Comeau 6
Victoriaville 5 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 7
Prince Edward 3 Island vs. Chicoutimi 2 (overtime)
Drummondville 1 vs. Rimouski 6
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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