Acadie-Bathurst take first game with win over Quebec

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Ending the regular season 11th overall, Quebec had to face Acadie-Bathurst in the first round of QMJHL playoff. Taking a 1-0 lead as they scored on their first power play opportunity, Titans saw their opponent replying with two goals in 2:01. Dominating the first period in shots on goal, Acadie-Bathurst regained the lead in middle frame with two goals in 1:09. Even if Quebec played solid third periods getting couple chances with man up Titans was able to resist and scored last goal in an empty net winning game one of first QMJHL playoff round 4-2.

Acadie-Bathurst scored first two goals on their first two power play chances, Quebec ended game 0-in-5 in same circumstance.

Dominated 17-9 in shots on goal Quebec came out of the first period in Acadie-Bathurst leading by one after first twenty minutes of play in the first round of QMJHL playoff.

Titan opened the scoring taking advantage of their first power play opportunity following a penalty to Quebec right winger Mikael Robidoux. Daniil Miromanov broke the ice beating Quebec goaltender Evgeny Kiselev along his left pad 3:30 into the opening period.

Quebec replied with two goals in span of 2:01 taking the lead. Coming back from injuries Yanick Turcotte and Dmitry Buynitskyi united their efforts on Quebec first goal. Placed right in front of Acadie-Bathurst goaltender Anthony Dumont-Bouchard the Titan netminder wasn’t able to do anything when Quebec forward Turcotte redirected the shot from Buynitskyi at 10:09.

Just 2:01 later Dereck Gentile beat Dumont-Bouchard over his right arm right from the slot.

Trailing by one even if they dominated the opening period, Acadie-Bathurst continued their domination in second period in shots on goal 13-2 in second, 33-11 after forty minutes of play.

The home team not even just dominated on the shots on goal but also regained the lead with two goals in 1:09. Scoring their first goal on their first power play chance, the Titan made their opponent paid dear price as the home team scored tying goal playing on their second power play chances in the game.

Getting a perfect pass from teammate Dawson Teede, Rodrigo Abols has been patient with the puck before making perfect pass to Vladimir Kuznetsov who left no chance to Quebec goalie as his one-timer shot beat Kiselev 7:15 into middle frame.

Only 1:09 later Acadie-Bathurst regained the lead for second times in the game. The backhanded shot by Adam Holwell beat Quebec netminder over his left shoulder. Antoine Morand and Olivier Desjardins got the assists.

Trailing by one to begin the third period Quebec got several chances on power play to try to get the equalizer but unfortunately for the visitor they were unable to with home team adding a fourth goal in an empty net with 25.4 seconds remaining.

Quebec will play game two of their QMJHL series on Saturday in Acadie Bathurst.

Seven other series began in the QMJHL on Friday night

Rimouski 2 vs. Saint John 9 (Saint John lead quarterfinal series 1-0)

Baie-Comeau 2 vs. Charlottetown 4 (Charlottetown lead quarterfinal series 1-0)

Gatineau 0 vs. Cape Breton 1 (overtime) (Cape Breton lead quarterfinal series 1-0)

Val-d’Or 5 vs. Shawinigan 2 (Val-d’Or lead quarterfinal series 1-0)

Drummondville 1 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 4 (Blainville Boisbriand lead quarterfinal series 1-0)

Halifax 5 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 4 (Halifax lead quarterfinal series 1-0)

Victoriaville 3 vs. Chicoutimi 4 (Chicoutimi lead quarterfinal series 1-0)

Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com