QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Being inactive for seven days after being on the road for eight days and having played five games on the road, Quebec defeated Shawinigan for second time in a week. Winning last Friday in Shawinigan by the score of 7-2, Remparts won for second time in a week this time in Quebec in first of five games in front of their fans by the score of 6-4. Philipp Kurashev earned first star ending with a goal and three assists. Teammates Aleksei Sergeev added three assists and Matthew Grouchy added two goals playing solid game on Friday night. 
Shawinigan struck first in Quebec on Friday night. Left uncovered in the slot Cataractes center Valantin Nussbaumer beat Quebec goaltender Anthony Morrone on his left side at 5:01.
Quebec tied the game with 1:50 remaining in the opening period. Olivier Mathieu redirect the pass from Aleksei Sergeev beating Shawinigan goaltender Antoine Coulombe scoring his seventh goal of the year.
Guilty of high sticking Quebec defenseman Etienne Verrette went in the box for four minutes. The penalty could have been costly for Patrick Roy’s team but fortunately Quebec successfully killed the penalty to their veteran defenseman. Shawinigan was 0-in-2 been unable to take advantage of four-on-three power play in opening period.
Visitors regained the lead with 7:58 remaining in second period. The low shot on the ice by Gabriel Bailey-Pelletier beat Quebec netminder on his right side.
Like in first period Quebec came back with 2:13 remaining in second period to bring both teams to square one scoring their second goal in the game. The shot from defenseman Sam Dunn left no chance to Shawinigan goalie Coulombe.
Shawinigan began the third period taking the lead for third time in the game with only 52 seconds gone on the clock. Leon Denis’s shot deflected on Quebec defenseman Sam Dunn before going behind Morrone.
Quebec tied the game for third time in the game scoring their first power play goal on their third attempts. Quebec center Philipp Kurashev one-timer left no chance to Cataractes netminder exactly two minutes after Shawinigan scored their third goals.
“We didn’t played the way we should to begin the game,” Quebec center Philipp Kurashev admitted. “We didn’t moved the puck well in first period. It was great that we got the win. Continued the one who ended with four points in the game.
“It was good I’m able to score goal, I’m just happy to be able to help my team win. It was great to play with Oliver Mathieu and Aleksei Sergeev, it doesn’t matter who scores goal whether it is Oliver or Sergeev. Mathieu skate well and scores too.” Kurashev ended.
Quebec took the lead for first time in the game as Brandon Frattaroli redirected a shot from defenseman Etienne Verrette scoring their second power play of the game. The pass on Frattaroli’s goal by Kurashev was his third in the game ending his game with four points as he was the author of Quebec tying goal. Quebec center got 10 points in last three games. 
Matthew Grouchy gave Quebec two goal lead completing great work in Shawinigan zone scoring his first of two goals in third period. Defenseman Benjamin Gagne and Andrew Coxhead got the assists on Remparts fifth goal at 16:55.
Shawinigan replied less than a minute later with their fourth goal as Jeremy Manseau surprised Quebec goalie with a long shot from the blue line cutting Quebec lead to only one goal.
Quebec insurance goal was scored in an empty net by Grouchy his second of the game at 18:58.
“We didn’t began the game properly,” answered Quebec head coach Patrick Roy after his team signed a 6-4 win in first of five home game after coming back from a five games on the road in last eight days that ended with a game against the same Cataractes on last Friday.
“I have to admit that on the other side they really played well. They played a good game, as far as we are concern we didn’t played game in last seven or eight days as we played against them on last Friday. We won that game 7-2, we didn’t took them lightly because we talked about them the all week. In same time they worked well, they were on the puck they took the lead to begin the game. I didn’t feel we had the same intensity, same speed as when we played them last week.” Continued Roy.
Shawinigan head coach Daniel Renaud was happy about his player’s effort but admitted his frustration about the way referees called the game.
“It certainly deceiving, we played a good hockey game, tonight it was a very fast game on both sides. Two teams that were ready to go to war.” Shawinigan head coach Daniel Renaud said.
“It took a winner and a loser, their power plays gave them the momentum because at five-on-five it was a game that was played pretty evenly. For sure, their two goals, the tying one and the one that gave them the lead made the difference. That is where the game has been played. That was the key turnover.” Ended the former assistant coach Renaud under former Quebec general manager and head coach two years ago Philippe Boucher.
Quebec next game will be this Sunday hosting arch-rival Rimouski Oceanic.
Six other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday night.
Saint John vs. Halifax (game postponed due to bad weather)
Victoriaville 2 vs. Val-d’Or 4
Cape Breton 4 vs. Baie-Comeau 7
Drummondville 1 vs. Gatineau 7
Acadie-Bathurst 0 vs. Rimouski 3
Blainville-Boisbriand 1vs. Rouyn-Noranda 11
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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