Moncton get last word over Quebec

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Playing very poorly the night before in Blainville-Boisbriand Moncton bounced back in Quebec with 3-2 win in front of 10162 Quebec fans coming in le Colisee Pepsi in the hope to see their favorite turning things around. Cameron Askew scores the goal that made the difference in favor of visiting team.

Seeing the home team taking a 2-0 lead in first half of first period, Moncton came back ending the initial period tied 2-2.

After a second period where both goaltenders made key saves to preserve the tie a penalty for delaying the game to Quebec center Marc-Olivier Roy led to the goal that made the difference in Moncton favor giving to Quebec a 1-6 record in their last seven games.

Quebec open the scoring on Saturday night against the first team in the QMJHL in the overall standing. Kept out of the scoring sheet since he came back from the World Junior Championship left winger Anthony Duclair broke the ice with his first goal with 8:09 left in the opening period. Duclair’s shot beat Moncton goaltender Alex Dubeau to his right side.

“It was good for the confidence it is good for the moral but in same time we have to win. I’m happy with the chemistry I have with Etchegary (Kurt) and Gauthier (Guillaume) but in same time we have lots of things we need to work.” Quebec left winger Anthony Duclair said.

“We can be satisfied but in same thing we lose at the end it’s unacceptable. In our last seven games we are 1-6 so we have to wake us up look ourselves in the mirror and play better game.” Continued the one who came back with the gold medal at the World Junior Championship.

“That is the thing we can’t do we had the lead 2-0 we scored two big goals we think it would be easy, it wasn’t for nothing if they are in first place overall, it is a good team they play great defensively and we have to give credit to Alex Dubeau. He played solid game we have had lots of chances but we weren’t opportunistic.” Ended Duclair.

A great pass from Vladimir Tkachev left Massimo Carozza completely alone with Wildcats netminder who has been beaten to his right side for second time in the game 14:00.

Moncton broke the ice with their first goal 1:13 later. Losing the puck near his own netminder defenseman Matt Murphy saw Russian center Ivan Barbashev beat Quebec goalie Zachary Fucale with a backhanded shot high on Fucale right side.

The Wildcats tied the game two all with 1:03 remaining to the first period with Noah Zilbert fourth of the year.

With the score tied 2-2 both goaltenders made key saves preventing the other team to take the lead. Zachary Fucale made a glove save on Will Smith, on the other Alex Dubeau also stole Quebec forward Marc Olivier Roy making a glove save on Quebec center backhanded shot trying to roof the puck.

“We played good game as a team we have had chances when we played in their zone,” Quebec goaltender Zachary Fucale.

“We did great things defensively, we played great game but sometimes we lose game like that. That is the way they play, Moncton got great players they are able to create offensive situations for them so sometimes they are able to take advantage of their opportunities think it was the story of the game.” Quebec goaltender Zachary Fucale said after the game near the locker room.

Being 0-in-1 in the game with the man advantage Moncton seen their opponent serving them a second chance with a man advantage as Quebec center Roy has been found guilty of delaying the game.

Making first save on first shot by Dominic Talbot-Tassi Quebec netminder hasn’t been able to do anything when Cameron Askew push the puck under Fucale right pad giving a 3-2 lead to visitor with 7:43 remaining in the third period.

“I was really proud of the guys after getting down it is a bounce back game for us like a respond game like I called it after our last night performance,” answered Moncton head coach Darren Rumble after his team pulled a victory after coming from behind.

“We were ready to play I like our effort, got little bit unlucky getting down 2-0 but our team used to play like that all year. When we get down we stick with it and lots of times we found ways to come back make a game of it. That was the case tonight we stayed with the game plan and nice power play execution there on the winner.”

For Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher his team missed an excellent chance to win the game as they had the lead 2-0 in first half of first period. The penalty in third period by Marc-Olivier Roy was really costly one.

“We aren’t opportunistic for very long time,” answered Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher as he tried to give some explanation why his team lost a two goal leads.

“I think we dominated big chunk of the game we had the game under control at 2-0 but we let it go. They were more opportunistic than us that is why they are in first place overall. They work hard and when they has had the chance they took advantage of it. On our side we have had ours but we weren’t able to take advantage of it.” Continued Quebec head coach Boucher.

Quebec will end their weekend at home hosting Charlottetown Islanders on Sunday afternoon.

Seven other games were on QMJHL schedule for Saturday night

Shawinigan 3 vs. Baie-Comeau 4

Rouyn-Noranda 2 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 4

Val-d’Or 3 vs. Rimouski 5

Charlottetown 8 vs. Victoriaville 4

Acadie-Bathurst 1 vs. Chicoutimi 3

Drummondville 2 vs. Cape Breton 6

Saint John 2 vs. Gatineau 4

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