Blainville-Boisbriand stops Quebec winning streak

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Leading 2-0 for most of first period, Blainville-Boisbriand saw Quebec coming from behind to lead 4-2 midway through the third period but two goals scored in span of 1:02 change what could have been a loss to 5-4 win over Quebec.

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“I didn’t think we deserved what happened to us after two periods,” answered Blainville-Boisbriand head coach Joel Bouchard. “It was a three games in three nights, we took penalties we deserved but it was penalty of aggressiveness because guys compete at certain times the line is very thin. I told the guys about the discipline in a three-in-three, I found we weren’t lucky on goals we gave. Guys became little frustrated when you are tired. I found we still hooked, we gave us a chance to win. I take the playoff, and the experience we have had since couple years, it help, it paid because guys believed, we already did, guys knows. Last night it was the same. We did not showed any panic or frustration.”

“In first couple minutes in third we have had several good scoring chances, we did not do any foolish things. We didn’t give anything, we didn’t gave the killing goal so when we give the chance to hang around. We have had several great scoring chances unfortunately they did not went in. Guys had their heads up all the times. It ends great, a three-in-three. When they came at home, we led with 20 seconds left, they were the best team I told Phil (Philippe Boucher), we were good, we didn’t deserved to lead in that game, we were opportunistic. Tonight, I think we were the best team,” Ended Armada head coach Bouchard.

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Dominated 11-5 in the first period, Blainville-Boisbriand scored first two goals in the game. Quebec got on board with their first goal with 42 seconds remaining in the first period with their third power play attempt.

Blainville-Boisbriand opened the scoring 3:30 into first period. Armada defenseman Pascal Corbeil long wrist shot beat Quebec goaltender Olivier Chalifour over his right shoulder.

Running at 24.7 percent efficiency, been 0-in-1 with man up the visitor scored first power play. A long shot from Armada right winger Alexandre Alain from the blue line found his way behind Quebec netminder with 10:57 remaining in the initial period.

Going 0-in-2 on their first two power play, Quebec get on board on their third occasions with a man up. Making first save on Quebec defenseman Etienne Verrette, visitor netminder can’t control the rebound going right on Quebec center Philipp Kurashev. Left uncovered in the slot the Quebec center shot beat Armada goaltender Emile Samson on his left side at 19:18.

Scoring 29 goals of their 60 since the season began, being their best period into the game, Quebec scored three goals first two on their first three shots in the second periods to taking the lead for first time in the game.

Scoring their first goal on their third power play, Remparts tied the game on their fifth power play opportunities. Veteran forward Luke Kirwan long wrist shot hit Armada netminder’s stick before going behind Blainville-Boisbriand goaltender at 9:04.

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Quebec took the lead in a tic-tac-toe play between Andrew Coxhead, Jesse Sutton and Louis-Filip Cote scoring his second of the year at 14:05.

Quebec came back almost three minutes later with their fourth goals in the game. Already scoring two of their three goals with the help of their power play, the home team adds a third goals on their six power play attempts. Unable to control the rebound on Quebec center Andrew Coxhead, Philipp Kurashev has been credited of his second goal of the game pushing the puck between Samson’s pads at 16:58.

Victim of Quebec four goals on 11 shots into the game, Blainville-Boisbriand head coach Joel Bouchard pulled his starting netminder Emile Samson sending 19 year old veteran Francis Leclerc.

Blainville-Boisbriand came back scoring their third goal with only 1:00 remaining in the middle frame. Alex Barre-Boulet scores his 10th of the season on perfect pass from teammate Joel Tisdeale.

In control 22-11 in shots on goal, but trailing by one after forty minutes of play on main scoreboard, visiting team took advantage of last two power play opportunities turning things around in favor of Blainville-Boisbriand.

Penalty taken by Quebec defenseman Sam Dunn opened the door to Armada tying goal. Already scoring two of their three goals with the help of the power play Armada veteran center Alexandre Alain scored his second of the game at 15:49 of the third period to bring both teams to square one.

Another penalty this time taken by Quebec captain Matthew Boucher led to visiting go ahead goal, the goal that became the game winning goal at 16:51 scored by Alex Barre-Boulet also his second of the game transforming what could be a loss to a fourth victories in last six games and a 7-2-2-0 in last 11 games for Blainville-Boisbriand.

“It was a game we deserved,” answered the author of the game winning goal who scores two goals in the game Alec Barre-Boulet. “We have had little let down in second periods but in first and third we better managed the puck then them. They played the same kind of trick in our home last time. They deserved more the game then us in our first meeting but tonight, they had the lead but we came back, that is what we did tonight.”

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For Quebec veteran defenseman Benjamin Gagne, he recognize that Blainville-Boisbriand was opportunistic.

“It was a team that when they got a chance to score they took it,” Quebec defenseman who came last year in trade from Drummondville Voltigeurs. “We gave them lots of chance on power play, I’m not sure it was all deserved penalty but I won’t go there it won’t gave anything. We should take advantage of that too but they did very well in taking advantage of it.”

Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher was a bit furious at the post-game press conference as he began his post-game press conference by congratulating Armada head coach Joel Boucher because he seem to control who seem to go to penalty box.

“I would like to congratulate Joel Bouchard to have taken the total control of the game. In first period, he was the one who decided who would go in penalty box. The number 12 (Tobie Paquette-Bisson) his best defenseman to kill penalty, hook our player and he (Armada head coach Joel Bouchard) sent number 17 (Thomas Ethier) in the box. And who began the shorthanded situation? Number 12. So Joel (Bouchard) took total, total, total control of that game.” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said.

“I have lots of respect for him, he is one of the best hockey man we have in the QMJHL. Me, I like the five-on-five hockey, we have had too many power plays and the other side too. Dunn (Sam) penalty you aren’t obliged to call a penalty like that, the player loss his balance he should fell on the ice, he didn’t had his stick.”

“I’m a coach, I’m not a referee, and I have the right to criticize, they can give me two minutes, sometimes I did too many times, this year it went pretty well. Referees placed our players at the end, we have five seconds to try to score, we have little confusion because we tried to make a player change and they placed our players, they are the one, who placed our players, f***k I’m the coach, can we, that is why I’m still bit frustrated.” Boucher said.

Quebec will go on the road for one game before going back home next two in Quebec in three games in three nights. The three games in three nights will begin Rimouski next Thursday night, before going back home to host consecutively Val-d’Or and Rouyn-Noranda on next Friday and Saturday.

Three other games were on QMJHL schedule on Sunday

Charlottetown 2 vs. Drummondville 1

Rimouski 3 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 2 (overtime)

Val-d’Or 2 vs. Gatineau 0

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