Gatineau ends 2016 with win in Quebec

Gatineau goaltender Mathieu Bellemare trying to make the save against Quebec forward Olivier Garneau photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Losing the night before in Sherbrooke (5-1) Gatineau came in Quebec ready to play. Taking advantage of their opponent’s undisciplined play with four power play goals in nine opportunities Gatineau won 8-3 over Quebec. Shawn Boudrias with three goals, Vitalii Abramov with one goal four assists and Zack MacEwen with two goals one assist took offensive in their hands.

Undisciplined play put Quebec in deep trouble early in the first period following two consecutive penalties to. Mathieu Ayotte and Olivier Garneau. Gatineau opened the scoring on five-on-three power play. Zack MacEwen beat Quebec goaltender Evgeny Kiselev 1:39 into first period.

Quebec tied the game in a shorthanded situation. Already scoring two goals in his first two games with Quebec Mathieu Ayotte took advantage of turnover from Gatineau netminder Mathieu Bellemare losing puck behind his net to come from behind Olympiques net putting puck in empty net at 3:16.

Olympiques regained the lead on face-off won by MacEwen. As Gatineau center won face-off in Quebec zone Daniel Del Pagio made pass to Anthony Gagnon living no chance to Quebec netminder beaten on his right side at 11:30.

Quebec tied the score scoring for second times in shorthanded situation. Olivier Garneau beat Olympiques netminder between his pads at 17:55.

Beginning second period with 3:55 of power play following a penalty to Olivier Garneau at the end of the first period, the Olympiques did not waste time to make Quebec pay for their poor play. Making first save on Vitalii Abramov shot the rebound went right on Shawn Boudrias beating Remparts netminder over right shoulder at 47 seconds.

Gatineau right winger Daniel Del Pagio (18) tried to control the rebound photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec

Gatineau added to their lead as Abramov drove to the net a perfect pass from teammates Vincent Milot Ouellet led to Abramov scoring his 25th of the regular season at 3:24.

Boudrias gave Gatineau a three-goal lead with his second in the game as his shot from the slot beat Kiselev between his pads with 6:15 remaining in middle frame.

Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher pulled the trigger as he replaced his starting goaltender Evgeny Kiselev after he allowed five goals on 26 shots. Acquired from Saint John in Callum Booth trade Alex Bishop came in Quebec net.

Already had one of Quebec goal in the game Mathieu Ayotte came back in the third with his second goal in the game cutting visitors lead to two goals at 1:27.

Unfortunately for the fans in the Videotron Center the joy didn’t last long since Gatineau came back with next three goals. Zack MacEwen with his second of the game surprised Bishop behind his net who didn’t came back in time unable to prevent Olympiques goal his 18th of the year at 4:30.

Jeffrey Durocher’s shot from the slot beat Quebec goaltender over his left shoulder making the score 7-3 at 14:42. Shawn Boudrias complete his hat trick as Bishop has been very generous on Boudrias long shot at 16:55.

For once if Gatineau head coach wasn’t happy in first period because his team given up two goals as his team was playing with a man up, he was happy about the way his team responded in last two periods.

Quebec goaltender Evgeny Kiselev left the game in second period after allowing 5 goals on 26 shots photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec

“We were ready for that game, we arrived very late last night so we have had very short period of time to prepare ourselves. We talked after the game last night to get ready for our last game in 2016 to finish the right way naturally. After the first period I really was mad because we had controlled this first period but we allowed two goals as we were playing on our power play but after that we bounce back really well, we continued to take control of the game. Gatineau head coach Mario Duhamel said.

For Olivier Garneau he wasn’t able to explain why the team played with undisciplined.

“No not really even not in front of our fans,” answered Olivier Garneau near his locker room. “Since the beginning of the year we have lot of things we have to work on. It wasn’t really the way we would like to finish the year. Penalties killed us this afternoon and I’m including myself in it. We weren’t able to keep the momentum we had, we definately miss some disciplined.” Continued Garneau.

Quebec left winger Matthew Boucher (91) dropped his gloves against Olympiques defenseman Will Thompson photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec

“It was little deceiving, I won’t get into it, I learn my lesson it did not give anything to talk about referee, I talked little bit about it yesterday and it look like they made us paid today so. For sure we took some penalties for too many men on the ice, we missed our concentration. It might be what could explained the result of the game.” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said.

Quebec will take the road playing four game in five nights beginning with two games in Rouyn-Noranda on next Wednesday and Friday.

Eight other games were on QMJHL schedule on Saturday

Cape Breton 5 vs. Halifax 2

Charlottetown 2 vs. Moncton 1

Acadie-Bathurst 7 vs. Saint John 5

Victoriaville 3 vs. Baie-Comeau 2 (overtime)

Drummondville 4 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 3 (shootout)

Rimouski 4 vs. Chicoutimi 5 (overtime)

Val-d’Or 3 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 4

Shawinigan 4 vs. Sherbrooke 2

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