Blainville-Boisbriand stops Quebec streak at three

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Playing the night before in Shawinigan Blainville-Boisbriand came in Quebec playing solid hockey winning in shootout 3-2, Trading goals in the first forty minutes both teams scored in third period pushing the game into overtime. As both teams got great scoring chances in fourth period, the game was decided in shootout and Armada return home with the additional point. Drake Batherson made the difference in Blainville-Boisbriand favor.

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Scoreless in last 27 games (last goal scored December 15 2017) Quebec forward Olivier Mathieu opened the scoring with his eighth of the regular season completing an excellent pass from teammate defenseman Etienne Verrette beating Blainville-Boisbriand goaltender Emile Samson with 14:03 remaining in the first period.

Best scoring chance from Blainville-Boisbriand came from the stick of Luke Henman. Quebec goaltender Antoine Samuel closed the door with left pad save.

Frustrated by Quebec netminder in first period Henman tied the score 1-1 in middle frame on his second scoring opportunities. Going by Quebec defenseman Andrew Pico, Armada center put the puck behind Samuel at 8:24.

Visitor came back in third periods with Drake Batherson scoring Armada second goals his 27th of the regular season giving the lead to Blainville-Boisbriand beating Quebec netminder with a wrist shot at 4:02.

Quebec defenseman Sam Dunn with a slap shot from the blue line tied the score 2-2 pushing both teams in overtime at 8:39. The goal came as Quebec was on power play following a penalty to Armada forward Alex Barre-Boulet for elbowing.

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In overtime, both teams got great scoring chances. Being penalized for Tripping as the team was in overtime Pascal Laberge saw his teammate Olivier Garneau going on breakaway getting an excellent chance to score but young Amada netminder closed the door. Jesse Sutton also got chance as team played three-on-three hockey but again Samson made the save.

As neither teams was able to put a puck behind other goaltenders the game has been decided in shootout. Alex Barre-Boulet and Drake Batherson scored for visiting team. Pascal Laberge was the only Remparts player to beat Armada netminder. Matthew Boucher and Jesse Sutton also took a shot but in both occasions Samson made the save giving Blainville-Boisbriand a 3-2 overtime win.

“It has been a great effort by both teams,” answered Blainville-Boisbriand head coach Joel Bouchard. “They came to play. I found we have had hard times in first period, Legs seemed heavy, we played last night, three and half hours of bus, it wasn’t an excused, I never let them go and I told them I would be after them because it was the kind of game if mentally you aren’t strong you lose that game 4-1, 5-1, cause the other team came to play. I found we close the middle we haven’t have any execution, we didn’t gave too many chances. It was the kind of game that could go one side or the other.” Continued Bouchard.

For Pascal Laberge the only one who beat Samson in shootout on Quebec side he was happy about the point his team got in regulation but surely would love to win in overtime. “We are very happy not to lose in regulation time, I think we have had our chances in overtime, hit some post, sure we would like to have the win, and I think it will show to all other teams that we are a good team.” Quebec center Pascal Laberge.

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For Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher he can’t blame his team for the efforts his team made in the game. But the main focus was the loss of Mikael Robidoux who was loss for the year with possibly broken ligament.

“Yes, yes,” answered Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher talking about his team effort. Several emotions, we play well but we lose Robidoux for the rest of the year, it is what haunted me now. He worked so hard after his surgery to come back before the end of the season. We saw his impact into the game, we saw what he did. We played well we play hard until the end, Samuel blocks several puck we have had our chances to score, game can go one side or the other, that is why we liked to play three-on-three hockey.” Boucher said after the game.