QUEBEC CITY P.Q. – Slowly but surely, the Shawinigan Cataractes came from behind and won Game 4, 5-4 taking a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven semifinal series. Maxime Legault scored two goals, and Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll had one goal and two assists for Shawinigan for the victory in front of 4,125 happy fans in the Bionest Center. Knowing the importance of Game 4 for Quebec, the Remparts began on a stronger note than in previous games. A penalty to Charles-Olivier Rousell gave the momentum to Quebec. Mikael Tam was credited with the Remparts first goal of the game when the puck deflected off of his skate. After consultation with the video judge, referees Dominic Bedard and Nicola Dutil allowed the goal at 5:40. David Gilbert added to Quebec’s lead completing the effort by Kevin Marshall and Jean-Simon Allard at 10:07. Guillaume Monast with a shot just inside the blueline during a penalty, the fourth one to Shawinigan’s Philippe Paradis (15:06), beat Shawinigan goaltender Timo Pielmmeier at 15:38 to give Quebec a 3-0 lead. Quebec sent out their power play unit four times in the first period scoring only once on their third try. Quebec got the best of Shawinigan, not only on the scoreboard, but also on the shots-on-goal department 14-9. On a surprise move to begin the second period, Cataractes head coach Guy Boucher decided to make a goaltending change sending out Gabriel Girard, a young 17 year old. McNicoll got Shawinigan on the board with the Cataractes first goal of the game when his shot beat Remparts goaltender Charles Lavigne with 3:53 gone in second period. Nicholas Petersen reduced Quebec’s lead to only one goal when he beat Lavigne at 12:27 on the man advantage. Legault deflected a pass from Simon Lacroix’s shot, beating the Quebec netminder at 14:46, tying the score at three goals apiece. Quebec regained a one goal lead with David Gilbert’s second goal of the game by deflecting a pass from Mikhail Stefanovich at 18:08 of the second period. After forty minutes, Quebec still had the lead at 4-3. In the second period, Shawinigan had three goals on 16 shots, while Quebec had one goal on four. Legault’s Second goal of the game came when he took the rebound from Alex Grant’s shot from the blueline and beat Lavigne for Shawinigan’s fourth goal of the game with only 1:28 gone in the third period. Mathew Pistilli gave Shawinigan the lead for the first time in the game at 5-4 on the power play at 10:55. Pistilli’s goal came at 11:20 on Shawinigan 37th shot on goal. Game 5 will be on Friday night in Quebec. Shots on goals: Quebec 26 Shawinigan 41 Power plays: Quebec 1-6 Shawinigan 2-3 Three Stars of the game: 1-Cedric Lalonde-McNicoll (Sha.) 2-Maxime Legault (Sha.) 3-Nocholas Petersen (Sha.) Elsewhere in the QMJHL. Drummonville eliminated Rimouski in 7-2 victory In Rimouski, the Voltigeurs remained unbeaten in the playoffs by showing their true colors right from the beginning of the game by scoring five goals in the opening period in a 7-2 win. Yannick Riendeau scored twice, Marc-Olivier Vachon, Mike Hoffman, and Philippe Lefebvre completed the scoring in the first period for Drummondville, all at even strength. Mathieu Doput came in relief of Maxime Gougeon to begin the second period. Rimouski broke the ice in the second period with their first goal on a power play. Philippe Cornet got the Oceanic on the scoreboard at 8:48, but Drummondville replied with the next two goals of the game when Gabriel Dumont scored at 9:20 and Danny Masse on a power play at 16:08. Alexandre Durette scored on a shorthanded situation to for Rimouski’s second goal at 15:45 of the third period to complete the scoring Shots on goals: Drummondville 39 Rimouski 22 Power plays: Drummondville 1-6 Rimouski 1-3 Three Stars of the game: 1-Dmitry Kulikov (Drum.) 2-Marc-Olivier Vachon (Drum.) 3-Maxime Ouimet (Rim.) Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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