Oshawa wins in OT against Quebec

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — On Sunday afternoon, game three of the Memorial Cup tournament saw the two teams that won their first game to face each other. As Quebec won against Western Hockey League champion Kelowna Rockets, Oshawa did the same against QMJHL champion Rimouski Oceanic.

Trailing the majority of the game Quebec thought they might have chance to win a second game in the tournament as left winger Dmytro Timashov who hadn’t scored a goal in his last 45 days (17 games) scored twice in 3:09 to give the lead to the host team.

Unfortunately for all Quebec fans in the building (10,970)a goal on a power play by Oshawa right winger Tobias Lindberg led both teams to play a fourth period. Dominating the overtime period as shots on goal is concern 17-6 Oshawa got the last words as the goal scored by Generals defenseman Stephen Desrocher gave a 5-4 overtime victory at 18:07of first overtime period.

“Yes without a doubt definitely all the boys played great game, I guess I was the lucky guy to get the final one. The boys are happy now we have two more games so we have two more games to go so we have to pull two more wins.” Said the author of the game winning goal in overtime Stephen Desrocher.

“Honestly I didn’t know I have lots of space to shot, I tried to get out of first guy so after that I just pulled my head and tried to get on net and it went in so I was happy.” Answered Generals defenseman Desrocher.

Oshawa head coach D.J. Smith was the first to recognize his team played much better than the night before. “I thought we played much better game than yesterday, I thought we carried the play the majority of the game, their team can score and when you gave them the chance they support the net. We made mistakes early than ended up in our net and they scored streaky goals good players scores goals like that.”

“He was really, really good,” answered Oshawa head coach Smith talking about Quebec Remparts goaltender Zachary Fucale who received lots of shots 50 in all game, 17 in overtime. “But sometimes it is better when you got shots after shots after shots instead of be sitting there like Kenny (Appleby) for long period of times and suddenly get high caliber of shots.”

Oshawa opened the scoring with only 2:18 into the opening period. A wrist shot by Generals defenseman Mitchell Vande Sompel redirect by Michael McCarron gave first lead to the Ontario Hockey League champion.

Quebec tied the score less than four minutes later. Defenseman Raphael Maheux on great pass from Anthony Duclair scores Quebec first goal 5:43 into first period. Maheux was the fourth Quebec defensemen to score goals, three others had scored in opening game of Memorial Cup against Kelowna Rockets on Friday night.

Oshawa regained the lead with 7:20 remaining in the first period. A shot by Quebec Vladimir Tkachev blocked by Appleby gave a two-on-one breakaway to the Generals. Michael McCarron made perfect pass to his left to Michael Dal Colle beating Quebec goaltender Zachary Fucale to his right side at 12:40.

Missing their first opportunity with a man up following penalty to Oshawa right winger Hunter Smith who had been found guilty of hooking, Quebec saw center Olivier Garneau been penalized for checking from behind with 1:19 remaining giving to General their first power play opportunity.

After Oshawa missed two great scoring chances, Quebec came back tying the scores on their first shot of second period with second goals of the tournament by defenseman Ryan Graves. Graves’s slap shot found tiny hole under Appleby right arm with 2:45 gone in middle frame. Five of Quebec six goals scored were by defensemen.

Being 0-in-6 with man advantage Vladimir Tkachev and Anthony Duclair got best scoring opportunity on General seventh penalties in the game the one to defenseman Josh Brown.

Unable to take advantage of the 41 seconds of power play to begin the third period Oshawa regained a one goal lead 3-2 just as the penalty to Quebec defenseman Raphael Maheux ended. The wrist shot by Dakota Mermis surprised Quebec goalie Fucale to his right with 17:26 to go in the third.

A penalty to Generals center Cole Cassel open the door to QMJHL champion to bring back both teams to square one. Unable to score a goal in his last 17 games (last one was on April 7) Dmytro Timashov scores Quebec next two goals in span of 3:09.

First Timashov goal came on power play when he surprised Oshawa netminder Appleby to his left at 5:39.

Quebec left winger second goal of the game giving Philippe Boucher’s team the lead for first time in the game came 2:09 later as Timashov to advantage of a rebound from the board following a missed shot by teammates Adam Erne surprising General netminder for second times.

“I just try to follow game plan skating a lots and be physical,” answered Quebec left winger Dmytro Timashov when he was asked what he did best.

Been 0-in-3 with a man advantage Oshawa tied the game at four all on their fourth power plays opportunities on a penalty to Quebec left winger Guillaume Gauthier. Tobias Lindberg scored his second goals of the tournament at 18:07 to bring both teams to overtime period.

The penalty at the end did not make Quebec head coach happy. “We played very well five-on-five I would like we still play five-on-five,” answered Quebec head coach Boucher in his post-game press conference.

“It was a costly penalty when you look the final result, we did great job trying to kill up until the end and it ended that it cost us.”

Questioned about the fact his team allowed lots of shots, Quebec head coach Boucher answered, “The team on the other side is good team. They have had lots of shot from outside Zach (Zachary Fucale) was really good. I don’t the total shots to see who played well. The game was tight game and we have had our chances to win.

Losing the lead lately in their last couple games Boucher didn’t seem to be worried. “Giving a goal on power plays, I’m not sure I should be worried,”

On Monday night the QMJHL President Cup champion Rimouski will face-off against Western Hockey League champion Kelowna Rockets.

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