QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Coming over from the Halifax Mooseheads in 2011-12 playing half season with the Quebec Remparts, Gabriel Desjardins played a key role in the Rouyn-Noranda 4-1 win scoring two goals against Quebec.
Gabriel Desjardins came to aunt his former teammates scoring Huskies first goal adding another one in third periods photo by Serge Poulin
“Very big win against Quebec,” Rouyn-Noranda head coach Andre Tourigny said in his post game press conference.
“We talked about the Quebec game, we knew it would be an emotional game due to the return of Desjardin and Nikita Kucherov (recently traded to the Huskies by Quebec in three way deal) we know how good he was treated by Quebec and their fans. Gabriel is a big leader for us we would like to see how our players would react under pressure and the result was excellent.” The Huskies head coach Tourigny continued.
When asked about his veteran center’s performance under pressure Rouyn-Noranda head coach was satisfied, “When players played under pressure, you find some who are unable to, in case of the two players Desjardins and Kucherov they played strong game.”
Quebec seemed to have hard time getting the puck out of their own zone in first period, they are the one to break the ice first thanks to a power play. Found guilty of hocking Huskies left winger Francis Perron was in penalty box when Quebec defenseman Martin Lefebvre scores his third of the regular season.
Quebec open the scoring with third of the year by veteran defenseman Martin Lefebvre photo by Serge Poulin
Driving to the net following first shot by Jason Houde, Lefebvre took the rebound pushing it under Rouyn-Noranda goalie Alexandre Belanger who ended the game making 27 saves on Quebec 28 shots on goal. The Lefebvre goal came at 6:13.
A give away by fourth line center Hubert Lamarre proved costly for the home team because that led to Desjardins first of the night putting the puck behind Quebec netminder Francois Brassard 3:40 after Quebec took his only lead in the game.
Thinking they had taken the lead for first time in second period following the goal scored by Jean-Sebastien Dea the visiting team saw the referee Dominic Bedard refused the goal saying the Huskies player scored it with his hand. The visiting team continued their territorial domination ending the middle frame with 16 shots against Brassard, Quebec shots 8 times on Belanger.
After a scoreless second period, the visitors came back leaving no doubt on the eventual outcome of this game scoring three other goals.
Rouyn-Noranda goaltender Alexandre Belanger ended his game making 27 saves on Quebec 28 shots on goal photo by Serge Poulin
After making the first saves on Mathieu Lemay shot, Desjardins took the rebound and only had to wrist it behind Quebec netminder for his second of the game at 4:45 of third period.
Sven Andrighetto 13:16 and Maxime St Cyr in an empty net 18:25 completed Rourn-Noranda offense for the night.
“They were able to put the talent aside and drive to the net,” Quebec netminder Francois Brassard said when asked what they were unable to do. “The put the puck on net and took the rebound, it was playoff hockey. They didn’t scored beauty goals they were efficient on that side.
“We have had our chances, we were able to match their intensity in first period but as the game went along we tried to make fancy play and unable to make the kind of play they wanted they became little bit frustrated. They (Huskies) played well defensively and it contribute to the frustration,” the Quebec goalie said.
Two former Remparts players Gabriel Desjardins 26 and Nikita Kucherov 18 played their first game against former team photo by Serge Poulin
“We must be better in certain aspect of our game,” Quebec head coach Patrick Roy said after his team loses for third consecutive time.
“For example, our decision making need to be better, at certain time in the game they were four on their blue line and we tried to go through the wall. As I said to the players we will have to accept to put it deep in the other zone and go to for check. I found we forced the play instead of keeping it simple. Our for checking isn’t what it should be, we should be better on for checking, to be faster on the defensemen better support. That is what we talk a lot since the season began.”
Quebec will play their next six games on the road beginning with first one this Sunday facing the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.
Five other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday
Rimouski 5 vs. Cape Breton 1
Chicoutimi 1 vs. Halifax 7
Victoriaville 2 vs. Moncton 4
Blaiville-Boisbriand 5 vs. Baie-Comeau 2
Gatineau 5 vs. Drummondville 4 (shootout)
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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