Chicoutimi opens weekend with win in Quebec

Chicoutimi goaltender Julio Billia made the save with Quebec center Bronson Beaton in the goalie crese photo by Serge Poulin

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Chicoutimi came to Quebec Thursday night hoping to end their season series against their archrival with a victory. Breaking the ice with only twenty seconds in the game, the Sagueneens saw their opponent coming back, but tying the score in the end of second period, Chicoutimi scored twice in third to seal a 4-2 win against Quebec Remparts.

“We didn’t have had any chances on power play in last five periods against them,” answered Chicoutimi head coach Yanick Jean about the first power play his team got in third period when they scored.

“Three periods at home last week and first two here it took that,” continue Saguennens head coach Jean.

“When he didn’t get one in first two, he gets good chance to score one in third,” Jean said about one of the best scorer on the team Nicolas Roy. Honestly he is regular, night after night after nights he did it for us.” Concluded Chicoutimi head coach Yanick Jean.

Scoring first goal of the game only 20 seconds in Jeremy Groleau did not play having left the game after been hit.

“I was really happy for him it was his first goal of the year and in the QMJHL and his first sign of concussion,” Yanick Jean said about his defenseman.

“I was hit by Turcotte (Yanick) on my second shift, I began to feel headache so just to make sure everything went well in the protocol they decided to give me a break and check it in next 48 hours.” The author of visitor first goal Jeremy Groleau.

Chicoutimi opened the scoring on a long wrist shot by Sagueneens defenseman Jeremy Groleau, beat Quebec goaltender, Evgeny Kiselev on his left side.

Quebec left winger Auguste Impose (94) back in lineup after been left out against Shawinigan last Saturday scores Quebec first goal photo by Serge Poulin

Quebec came back taking advantage on their first power play opportunity. Back in the lineup after been left out of Quebec last game against Shawinigan, left winger Auguste Impose, left no chance to Chicoutimi goaltender Julio Billia, redirecting a pass from Derek Gentile at 9:43.

“We have been on them all the game,” Auguste Impose said about the way Quebec played against Chicoutimi. “We were very physical, we really were in their face, we put lots of pressure, we have had lots of shots but the difference was on power plays. They have had one where they made 3-2. We have had occasions and we didn’t scored and the last one came in an empty net. We didn’t took advantage of our power plays.”

Quebec took the lead as time wound down in the first period. Patient with the puck, young 16 years old Louis-Filip Cote, found defenseman Ross McDougall beating Chicoutimi netminder on his left side, at 19:19 of the opening period.

Beginning the second period playing four-on-four following minor penalty to Chicoutimi Artem Maltsev and Quebec Yanick Turcotte neither team got real scoring chance.

Been 1-in-2 with a man advantage, Quebec got another chance to send their power play unit. Fortunately for Saguennens head coach Yanick Jean, his team successfully killed the penalty to teammate Timote Simard.

Taking advantage of turnover Chicoutimi went on breakaway two-on-one as Taylor Cooper took his own rebound before beating Quebec netminder Kiselev with only 1:06 remaining in middle frame tying the score 2-2.

With Quebec already got four power play chances scoring only once, Chicoutimi remained the lead for second times in the game as they have been the beneficiary of their first power play in the game, as Quebec veteran center Bronson Beaton has been sent to the box at 8:03 for goalie interference.

Sagueneens center Nicolas Roy redirect the pass from Frederic Allard beating Quebec goalie on his left side only twenty seconds into Beaton penalty. Roy’s goal came at 8:33.

Chicoutimi came back with the assurance goal in an empty net as Zachary Lavigne made it 4-2 sealing the victory against Quebec.

Chicoutimi first goal scored by defenseman Jeremy Groleau (77) photo by Serge Poulin

“For sure, on Chicoutimi second goal Dutra (Aaron) loose his stick at the end of second period, it hurt us.” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher.

“We tried to come back in the game it was a detail but you have to wait that the goalie is out of the ice before you stepped in. We have had plenty of the puck control, if we shoot the puck deep on second one, it was a goal that hurt us at the end. I was sorry because we have had all the reason to enjoy our performance beside the first goal where the puck seemed to have eyes. We have had two or three bad shift to begin the game, after that we played exactly the way we should.”

Quebec next game will be tomorrow (Friday) night hosting Gatineau Olympiques in second of three games in four nights.

Two other games were on QMJHL schedule on Thursday night

Victoriaville 4 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 5

Baie-Comeau 0 vs. Blainville Boisbriand 5

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