Acadie-Bathurst win game five

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —In what was the best QMJHL president Cup game in the series the Acadie-Bathurst Titans came on top. Being opportunistic the Titans return home with a chance to win the President Cup trophy at home on Sunday afternoon following a 5-3 wins in Blainville-Boisbriand against the Armada. Titans captain defenseman Noah Dobson had the distinction of scoring what became the game winning goal to lead the QMJHL President Cup final 3-2.

Playing their best first period of the QMJHL President Cup final, three goals were scored, two by Acadie-Bathurst one by Blainville-Boisbriand. With already only 52 seconds played both goaltenders have had chances to make key saves.

First great scoring opportunity came from the stick of Titans Samuel Asselin as Blainville-Boisbriand netminder Emile Samson made the save. Couple seconds later it was the turn of Acadie-Bathurst Evan Fitzpatrick who stopped Alexandre Alain and Charles-Antoine Giguere.

Blainville-Boisbriand opened the scoring on their first power play opportunity in the game. Running at 24.4 percent scoring23 goals-in-94 opportunities since the playoff began. Making the first save on the shot from Drake Batherson, the rebound went right on Joel Teasdale stick after hitting the Acadie-Bathurst defenseman Olivier Galipeau stick. Teasdale’ wrist shot left no chance to Titans netminder Evan Fitzpatrick at 3:06.

Acadie-Bathurst tied the game as both teams played four-on-four hockey. Samuel L’Italien wrist shot found tiny hole between Samson’ pads at 12:35. Titans took the lead for first time in the game as Mikhail Ivan scored his first career playoff goal after the puck hit Armada defenseman Antoine Crete-Belzile and another teammate before going behind Emile Samson at 14:59.

Blainville-Boisbriand missed an excellent scoring opportunity as Alexander Katerinakis and Drake Batherson went on two-on-one breakaway with 2:20 remaining in opening period.

Leading by one after first period, the visitor adds to their lead 3:59 into middle frame. In great play as Tians defenseman Galipeau pass to Mitchell Balmas who made the pass to teammate Ethan Crossman. The former Quebec Remparts veteran winger wrist shot beat Armada goalie for Crossman 10th goals of the playoff.

Playing four-on-four hockey Blainville-Boisbriand cut Titans lead to only one goal as Alexander Katerinakis went on breakaway beating Fitzpatrick on glove side at 7:49.

Acadir-Bathurst though they had regained their two goal leads as Justin Ducharme scored with 2:07 left to play in middle frame but after video review the goal has been waved-off. Scores still 3-2 Acadie-Bathurst after forty minutes of play.

Acadie-Bathurst regained their two goal leads on a shot from blue line by defenseman Noah Dobson. Dobson’s shot hit Armada defenseman Crete-Belzile’s skate before going in at 2:41 of the third periods.

Armada replied 1:06 later with their third goal of the game trailing again only by one. Charles-Antoine Giguere shot beat Titans netminder Fitzpatrick over his right shoulder. Acadie-Bathurst fourth goal has been scored in an empty net by Jeffrey Truchon-Viel with 5.6 seconds remaining on the clock.

Seventy-percent of teams winning game five won the QMJHL President Cup, four of them won the Cup in six games.

Game six of QMJHL President Cup final will return in Adadie-Bathurst on Sunday

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