Victoriaville right winger Samuel Laberge in action in Quebec zone waiting for a pass photo by Serge Poulin
QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Taking the lead in the opening period Quebec saw their opponent coming back with the next two goals to take 2-1 lead but the home team replied with five unanswered goals to register a 6-2 win against Victoriaville. Adam Erne with one goal, two assists and Kurt Etchegary with two goals led the Quebec offensive. Erne’s goal was his 23rd of the year giving him hundred goals scored in his QMJHL career.
Quebec opened the scoring for seventh time this year as Quebec left winger Dmytro Timashov on his knees slide the puck under Victoriaville goaltender Chase Marchand as the penalty to Tigres defenseman Filip Pyrochta ended. Timashov’s goal came at 17:04.
Victoriaville tied the game with only 1:37 gone into middle frame. A turnover in middle of the ice. As Angelo Miceli missed his shot teammate Samuel Blais came from behind Quebec goal finding Gabriel Fournier beating Callum Booth over left shoulder.
Victoriaville netminder saw lots of action in first period facing 11 shots allowing one goal photo by Serge Poulin
Tgres came back to take the lead for first time in the game playing in shorthanded situation killing a penalty for too many men on the ice served by Julien Proulx. Another turnover this time by Quebec forward Timashov led to Victoriaville second goal. Tigres right winger Mathieu Ayotte scored his eighth of the year sliding the puck under Quebec goalie at 5:59.
Quebec replied only 52 seconds later scoring on their second power play opportunities. Adam Erne scores his 23rd of the year giving him hundred in career. Quebec fourth goals signified the end of the night for starting netminder Chase Marchand after allowing four goals on 25 shots.
Recently acquired in trade from Rimouski Oceanic, Olivier Tremblay has been sent by Victoriaville head coach Bruce Richardson.
Quebec goalie Callum Booth in action in first period photo by Serge Poulin
Quebec came back in third period adding two more goals both scored by third line center Kurt Etchegary first one on great pass by defenseman Aaron Dutra at 11:43 the second one at 18:42 registering his sixteen and seventeen of the season completing Quebec offensive for the night.
“Very happy with the way we start the game, my parents were here, my girlfriend is here so it was nice,” Quebec center Kurt Etchegary said about the way his team begins the game.
Asked if it was the first times his parent came to see him play the former captain said,” No they come up fairly often they are very supportive and they fled from Newfoundland.”
Talking about next game tomorrow against Blainville-Boisbriand Etchegary said, “It will be another big game against very hard working team contenders I don’t know where they are in standing but they always are hardworking team this game will be as important as the Rimouski one was.”
“It was fun,” began to answer Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher about the contribution of the third line we have some players that look for but we continue to win games, we expects more from some but Callum (goaltender Callum Booth) has been good the defense was fine it was a team victory.”
“We played real well in first period, we have had lots of shots we tried to keep it simple but we tried to be too cute after you can’t make a play like that (referring to the turnover by Timashov) so we tried to keep their heads to hockey” Boucher said explaining the timeout he called after first two Victoriaville goals.
Quebec center Adam Erne ended the game with 1 goal 2 assists photo by Serge Pouln
On the other side Victoriaville head coach Richardson admitted that Quebec best players were better than his best players.
“In the first period, I think we have had great opportunities but if you look overall their best players has been better than our best players and that is what made the difference. Up until the second period we had the momentum. After that his goaler on the other side made key saves and on our side we did not have had the saves we should have had.
Quebec will get right back in action facing Blainville-Boisbriand on Saturday afternoon.
Two other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday
Charlottetown 1 vs. Cape Breton 2
Acadie-Bathurst 1 Moncton 2
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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