Baie-Comeau wins in Quebec | Pro Hockey News

Baie-Comeau forward Vincent Deslauriers (47) scoring Drakkar fifth goals photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Losing the first three meetings of four against Quebec Baie-Cmeau began the game on a stronger note scoring three times in first period first two in span of 38 seconds to register their first victory against Quebec by the score of 5-2. Kevin Lamontagne with a goal and assist played solid game but goaltender was very solid especially in second periods as he ended the game earning first stars.

“Yes it is very important to have great start,” answered Baie-Comeau head coach Martin Bernard. “After that we did not manage our lead properly, we aren’t a team that use to play with a big lead like we have had in first period. In second it was catastrophic but what I like in third our young guys stayed calm they really kept their focus on task they had to accomplish and they managed their emotions better. They stayed on the ice less in penalty box.”

“That was the reason why we kept him,” Bernard said about his netminder Antoine Samuel. “We have had offer for him but at the end what he brought to our team gave us a chance to get big points in the standing, to compete and get our confidence high.”

For the third game, the opposition took the lead scoring the first two goals. Baie-Comeau took advantage of their first opportunity with a man up. Samuel Thibault wrist shot from the point beat Quebec goaltender Evgeny Kiselev 2:54 into opening period. Quebec center Andrew Coxhead was in the box.

Baie-Comeau left winger Antoine Girard (15) along the board going in offensive zone photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec

Visitor came back 38 seconds later as Drakkar defenseman Yan Aucoin slap shot beat Kiselev over right shoulder.

Baie-Comeau added a third goal in first period, a shot from corner from Kevin Lamontagne, beat Quebec goalie for third times in 11 shots, with 5:54 remaining. Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher decided to pull his starting netminder Evgeny Kiselev, sending Dereck Baribeau, who came back from groin injury.

Playing shorthanded following a five-minute penalty for boarding to Quebec forward Yanick Turcotte hitting Vincent Deslauriers, Olivier Garneau went on breakaway seeing Baie-Comeau goaltender Antoine Samuel making first save, but taking his own rebound, the left winger, pushed the puck behind Drakkar netminder, scoring his fifth goals in last four games at 18:08.

Quebec cut Baie-Comeau leads to one goal with Mathieu Ayotte goal his 16th in 31 games his 11th with Quebec in 17 games. Ayotte shot beat Samuel over left shoulder at 6:59.

For one the author of Quebec first goal was the first to admit the team did not play sixty minutes.

“We didn’t played sixty minutes, We didn’t hide, in first we began the game very weakly, we can’t win game playing just forty minutes,” Quebec right winger Mathieu Ayotte said.

Baie-Comeau promising forward D’Artagnan Joly (11) tried to make a play photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec

“Sure, that would have helped if we could score in the second, it could help us to get some momentum it could be better for the third period but lesson we will come back stronger tomorrow, we have a big week ahead of us and we will concentrate on that.” Ended veteran forward Ayotte.

Trailing by one Quebec has had excellent opportunity to tie the game beneficiary of a five-on-three for 50 seconds but Drakkar netminder kept the door closed.

Leading by one after forty minutes Baie-Comeau adds two more goals in the third to seal Quebec fate. Ivan Chekhovick on breakaway was the first to beat Dereck Baribeau since he came in the game in first period in relief of Evgeny Kiselev with a backhanded shot between Baribeau’s Pads at 7:23.

Last Drakkar goal came at 15:11 as Vincent Deslauriers scores his 19th of the year.

Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher agreed with his player that the team can’t win if they not playing sixty minutes.

Quebec goaltender Dereck Baribeau enter the game in relief of Evgeny Kiselev who allowed three goals on eleven shots photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec

“We didn’t really began the game like we would, we were little surprised by their energy, and we knew from longtime ago that all teams coming here are motivated and ready. With the parity in the league, Saint John lose tonight against Acadie-Bathurst, Drummondville found a way to win against Gatineau, Whatever team you play against you have to bring your best game every night. Tonight we really did not began the right way.” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said.

“We played very well in second but it was little bit too late.”

Quebec will be back in action on Thursday night in Videotron Center host.ng Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.

Two other games were on QMJHL schedule on Wednesday

Acadie-Bathurst 8 vs. Saint John7 (overtime)

Gatineau 2 vs. Drummondville 5

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