Quebec begin preseason schedule winning first two games

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Quebec opened their preseason schedule with the first two games against arch-rival Rimouski. After winning first meeting last Sunday by the score of 5-2, Patrick Roy’s team won the second confrontation on Tuesday night by the same score. Playing with veteran center Gregor MacLeod and newcomer European left winger Aleksei Sergeev, Philipp Kurashev took charge of home team offense ending his night with two goals and two assists.

The visitors opened the scoring as the Oceanic center Cedric Pare beat Quebec goaltender Philippe Bond only 3:27 into opening period.

But Quebec took control of the game more precisely the line of Gregor MacLeod, Aleksei Sergeev and Philipp Kurashev as the veteran center tied the score with first of two goals in the first period inside 2:59. Kurashev first goal came at 9:53, Sergeev and defenseman Christian Huntley got the assists.

Quebec veteran center came 2:59 second later giving to his team their first lead in the game beating Rimouski starting netminder Anthony Pagliauro who allowed five Quebec goals on 12 shots in 29:19 minutes of play.

Less than three minutes later veteran forward Gregor MacLeod came with his second of pre-season schedule giving Quebec a two-goal lead. Selected 26th overall in 2018 European draft young Aleksei Sergeev already got his second assists ending his game with five.

“It was really good tonight,” answered the young left winger Sergeev. “I already like it, it was fun to play with them (Philipp Kurashev and Gregor MacLeod).” Continued the 5’10” 180 pound winger.

Quebec came back in the second period as they adds two more goals to conclude their offense for the night. MacLeod who already scored Quebec third goal scored his second of the night, Quebec fourth goal in the game thirty-nine seconds into middle frame. Matthew Groutchy completed the score for Quebec with Remparts fifth goal 9:19 in second period.

Rimouski came back in the third period with their second goal in the game as Frederyck Janvier scored his first of pre-season at 19:03 beating Quebec goalie Philippe Bond who has been beaten only twice on 17 Oceanic shots.

“We had some good chemistry today, I hope we could keeping going like that,” answered the second stars of the game Philipp Kurashev talking about his line performance with MacLeod and Sergeev. “He like to pass, I like to pass, it worked out very well, we always talked to each other on the ice, on the bench, and yes it is really great to play with him.” Kurashev said, about his new teammate Aleksei Sergeev.

For head coach Patrick Roy, he seemed very happy about his team performance for a second games against Rimouski.

“Yes I’m happy but beside the way we played when the score was 5-1, we seemed to be sloppy, in second periods the shots were 18-8 we dominated even in the third too. Yes I’m happy the way the team played in general. Our defense upheld the challenge, Sergeev and Kurashev were extraordinaire, two pass for one, five for the other, it will be the kind of offense we will have this year,” Quebec head coach Patrick Roy said near the team dressing room.

“What I like the most was the way we came out, we came out very strongly, we will use several combination,” continued Roy when talked about the line combinations surrounding the two Europeans players, tomorrow talking about Wednesday game against Baie-Comeau it will be Matthew Groutchy replacing Gregor MacLeod between Sergeev and Kurashev.

On Wednesday morning, Roy announced a trade with Victoriaville Tigres. Quebec acquired goaltender Anthony Marrone a 6’ 167 pound who played 13 games with the Tigres in 2017-18 registering a record of 4-7-0 with a goaltending average of 2:66 and efficiency percentage of .909. In return Quebec sent to Victoriaville their fifth round selection in 2021.