Gatineau takes second game at home

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — For the second time in less than twenty-four hours Gatineau won over Quebec. Trailing by one entering the third period while dominating in shots on goals 36-7 (18-2 in second period), Gatineau came from behind scoring twice in last period on their 42nd and 48th shots before signing a 2-1 win against Quebec leading their first round series 2-0.

Quebec began Game Two of the series minus one player following a check. Veteran forward Zachary Moody will be out for next six to eight weeks with an upper-body injury, Colby Tower get his chance to play his first game in the series.

Like the first game Gatineau dominated the first period with 19 shots on goal against five for Quebec.

Quebec best scoring chance came on two-on-one breakaway Colby Tower and Sean O’Brien went on breakaway the shot by Tower missed the net by few inches.

Yan-Pavel Laplante had been the most dangerous forward with four great scoring chances, Yakov Tremin with two, Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau, Vincent Milot Ouellet, and Alex Dostie with one each got bscoring chances but each times Quebec goalie Evgeny Kiselev made the saves.

Beginning the second period playing four-on-four following minor penalties at the end of first period to Quebec left winger Yanick Turcotte and Yan Pavel Laplante, Quebec takes the lead for first time in game and the series. Picking the pick in the middle of the ice Quebec captain Bronson Beaton went on breakaway beating Gatineau goaltender Mathieu Bellemare on his left 28 seconds into middle frame.

Gatineau got a golden opportunity to get on board to tie the game as Quebec right winger Mikael Robidoux got four minutes for hit to the head and roughing at 8:06. Quebec successfully killed the penalty keeping the 1-0 lead.

The Olympiques continued their domination in shots on goal shooting 18 times against only two for Quebec, dominating 37-7 after forty minutes of play. Quebec got penalty at the end of second period Olivier Garneau has been penalized, defenseman Raphael Maheux for Quebec and Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau for Gatineau also been penalized giving the Olympiques a power play to begin the third period.

Already been 0-in-2 with man up Gatineau got two other chances with man up to try to tie the game but on each occasions Quebec successfully kept their one goal lead. Beginning the third period killing Garneau penalty, Quebec saw defenseman Anthony Gingras been found guilty for holding2:29 into the third periods.

Gatineau tied the game getting on scoreboard with 15:18 remaining to the third periods. Trying to get out of his own zone, Quebec left winger Louis-Filip Cote lose the puck to Austin Eastman Alexandre Landreville made pass to Tristan Ellie who took a shot from the slot beating Quebec netminder Kiselev under left pad with Olympiques 42nd shots on Quebec goalie.

Another turnover in Quebec zone turn out to Benoit Grouxl team. With Quebec veteran defenseman Anthony Gingras losing the puck in the slot Alexandre Alain one-timer left no chance to Quebec goalie Kiselev giving to the Olympiques their first lead in the game on their 48th shots on Kiselev. Alain’s goal came at 12:32.

Trailing by one with 1:25 left in the third period Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher pulled his starting netminder sending a sixth forward trying to tie the game and push the game in overtime. Unfortunately for the visitor Gatineau successfully protect their lead and signed their second victory in the series going to Quebec next Tuesday and Wednesday leading their first round series 2-0.

Game three and four of that first round series will be next Tuesday and Wednesday March 29 and 30 in Quebec.

Seven other first round series were on QMJHL schedule on Saturday night

Sherbooke 2 vs. Shawinigan 3 (series tied 1-1)

Charlottetown 4 vs. Rimouski 5 (overtime) (series tied 1-1)

Acadie-Bathurst 2 vs. Saint John 4 (Saint John lead series 2-0)

Victoriaville 5 vs. Moncton 6 (overtime Moncton leads series 2-0)

Chicoutimi vs. Cape Breton

Drummondville 0 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 6 (Rouyn-Noranda leads series 2-0)

Blainville-Boisbriand 1 vs. Val-d’Or 4 (Val-d’Or leads series 2-0)

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