QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Beginning a series of six games in the next ten days Quebec hosted the Halifax Mooseheads on Friday night in Videotron Center. With the score been tied 2-2 after the regulation. Former Quebec defenseman Cody Donaghey came back facing his former team and aunt his former team scoring the overtime goal leading Halifax to a 3-2 overtime victory.
Unable to take advantage of a five-on-three for 46 seconds, Quebec saw Halifax take advantage of same opportunities for 27 seconds scoring on consecutive penalties. Both goals were scored by Danny Moynihan.
Moynihan pushed the puck behind Quebec goalie Callum Booth on first occasion with 1:42 remaining in first period. On Halifax second goal Moynihan wrist shot beat Quebec goalie 42 seconds later.
Two Quebec defensemen were in the box, veteran Matt Murphy and Aaron Dutra. Quebec had the edge on shots on goal 12-9.
Quebec cut Halifax lead with 3.8 seconds on the clock. Using Mooseheads defenseman Cavan Fitsgerald Quebec left winger Dmytro Tymashov wrist shot beat former Quebec netminder Eric Brassard on his left side.
Going 0-in-7 on Wednesday night in Drummondville Quebec was 0-in-2 with a man advantage got their best scoring chance of the period with a three-on-one breakaway Yannick Turcotte made pass to teammate Matt Murphy who tried to make a pass to Olivier Garneau but the center was unable to take shot.
Quebec ended second period on power play and began the third with 1:04 of man advantage following penalty to defenseman Cody Donaghey but was unable to get on board.
Quebec tied the game 2-2 on Charley Graaskamp goal taking the rebound following first shot by Timashov. Graaskamp wrist shot beat Brassard on his right side at 10:22.
Each teams got a point at the end of regulation time. Beginning the overtime with 55 seconds of four-on-three power play Halifax wasn’t able to get the goal but back at four-on-four Callum Booth made first save on Timo Meier but former Quebec defenseman Cody Donaghey took the rebound and score the goal that gave Halifax the additional points in the standing.
“It was our first victory in overtime,” answered Halifax head coach Dominique Ducharme. “We lose one and the other we lose in shootout. In genera we look the game and we said to ourselves we earned that game. We have had great scoring chances mostly in second periods, we could get more goals, I think we got what we deserved at the end.”
For Graaskamp, he was disappointed about the penalty he took at the end of third period giving Halifax a power play to begin the overtime.
“Yes I’m disappointed it definitely didn’t help the team, we get the momentum after we got the goal obviously I feel bad about it.”
“It broke our rhythm and it also seem to brake our rhythm when we go our power plays,” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said about the penalties taken by both teams in the game. Our power play was lethargic again tonight. Veteran took penalties, some veterans didn’t seem to be here, and some will have to wake up soon. We played lots of hockey we travel a lots so sometimes we see a game coming where you feel your players not in the game.”
“Honestly in Drummondville I thought we were not really ready to play but we played really well we worked really well. This morning at the morning skates we seem to be too smooth can’t explained why and tonight we didn’t came out.”
Quebec next game will be this Sunday hosting the Gatineau Olympiques.
Six other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday night
Val-d’Or 2 vs. Cape Breton 6
Rouyn-Noranda 5 vs. Saint John 2
Shawinigan 3 vs. Chicoutimi 2
Drummondville 3 vs. Victoriaville 2
Gatineau 3 vs. Baie-Comeau 2
Sherbrooke 2 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 1
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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