QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Friday night was the last chance for Quebec to win at least one game in their season series against Montreal. Unfortunately for Patrick Roy’s team Quebec lost for the fourth time against Pascal Vincent’s team.
After Quebec broke the ice with the first goal of the game, Montreal replied scoring the next three, two in the second period, leading 3-1 after forty minutes.
While Quebec reduced the Montreal lead to one goal in the first five minutes of the third period, Montreal came back with two goals preventing any hope of coming back for Quebec.
A great check by Quebec defenseman Mikael Tam on Montreal forward Louis Leblanc along the boards led to Quebec’s opening goal of the game. A great exchange between Olivier Hinse, Alexandre Grenier and Vincent Montreuil ended with Montreuil scoring Quebec first goal at 13:30 of the opening period.
Pressure in the Quebec zone applied by Raphael Poulliot and Nicolas Chouinard led to the Montreal tying goal. Louis-Marc Aubry (son of former Quebec Nordiques goaltender Serge Aubry) completed the combined effort by Poulliot and Chouinard pushing the puck behind Quebec netminder Louis Domingue with 1:28 remaining in the first.
With both teams in action the night before (Quebec in Gatineau, Montreal in Lewiston), fans reunited in the Montreal Auditorium, expected to see both teams show signs of tiredness. But it didn’t seem to affect Quebec center John Audy-Marchessault who forced Berube to make two big saves in first portion of second period preventing the Remparts to break the tie game.
Montreal took the lead for the first time in the game on their first power play opportunity with 12:32 remaining in the second period. Victor Hertzberg took a rebound from Louis Leblanc seeing the shot beating Domingue between his pads following a deflection at 7:28.
Montreal’s David Rose welcomed Quebec netminder Jimmy Appleby, who came in relief for Domingue with 10:54 remaining (following a possible injury on a shot from Francis Meilleur), with his 18th goals of the year. Quebec defenseman Tam saw his pass intercepted by Hertzberg behind the Quebec net and found Rose who beat Appleby with a wrist shot at 13:27 of the second period.
The final Quebec goal came from the stick of defenseman Ryan Culkin completing a great exchange between Joel Champagne and Guillaume Rousseau at 4:36.
Montreal roared back with two goals regaining their two-goal lead in the next seven minutes. Louis Leblanc following great fore-checking beat Appleby at 8:03 and Matt Provost 1:07 later followed with Montreal fifth goal. Provost beat Appleby on a screen shot at 9:10 in the third period.
With several players on the injury list including Ryan Bourque, Matthew Brown, Joe Dube defenseman Brandon Duke, the week off will be welcome by the organization. The Remparts will get back in action next Friday, February 25th, hosting Victoriaville Tigres.
On February 26 Quebec will host Rimouski.
Other games in the QMJHL
Halifax 1 vs. Cape Breton 0
Victoriaville 1 vs. Cape Breton 7
Shawinigan 5 vs. Moncton 3
Val-d’Or 2 vs. Saint John 3
Prince Edward 3 Island 2 vs. Chicoutimi 2 (OT)
Rouyn-Noranda 0 vs. Drummondville 6
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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