QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Jimmy Appleby could not ask for a better way to answer the challenge. After being pulled in his last two starts, he played very well in front of Quebec goal even if he only had to make 11 saves during the game.
“It went well, our team didn’t give too many scoring chances,” Appleby said describing his performance between the pipes Sunday afternoon. “I possibly made only one key save all game so I didn’t take any credit I simply was ready to play. I was anxious to play and as I said it went well.”
After seeing their power play being shutout during a five-on-three for 29 seconds and a subsequent five-on-four, Quebec opened the scoring during a shorthanded situation.
After seeing his shot hit Guillaume Rousseau’s pad Cape Breton defenseman Morgan Ellis was unable to come back in time to prevent Quebec’s Frederick Roy on a breakaway following a great pass from teammate Ryan Bourque. Roy beat Screaming Eagle netminder Alexandre Veroneau on his glove side at 15:19 of the opening period.
The first period ended with Quebec leading 1-0.
As the author of the first goal in a shorthanded situation the left winger gave credit to his teammates on the play.
“Sure it’s nice but all began with all five players including the goaltender. It was a nice block shut by Rousseau (Guillaume) and Ryan (Bourque) made nice jump pass to me. I was afraid that someone can catch me but I made a good shot top shelve,” said Roy about Quebec first goal in the game.
Asked about the energy reserve his team had in this third game in three nights (same for Cape Breton), Roy has been the first to recognize that it was hard but didn’t used it as an excused.
“Sure it’s hard to play three in three even if it was the same for our opponent tonight, but it wasn’t an excuse, we can’t take Cape Breton too lightly, we can’t take any teams lightly in this league. You have to show each night to play sixty minutes, and that’s what we did tonight,” Roy said after the game.
“We knew it was a team that could surprise us they were young. Appleby played solid game tonight, after practice he always was the last to leave the ice he works very hard he is a goaltender with lot of character, he earns his shutout tonight,” said Roy of the performance of his goaltender.
Quebec came back in the second, scoring two goals at even strength.
Quebec captain defenseman Mikael Tam took a great shot from the blue line forcing Cape Breton goaltender to make first save. Unable to control the rebound rookie right winger Axel Rioux was there near the goalmouth beating Veroneau low on his glove side at 9:37.
Veteran left winger John Audy-Marchessault made it 3-1 Quebec with his 15th of the season beating Cape Breton netminder with a wrist shot over his left shoulder 14:06 into the second period.
Tomas Filippi completed Quebec’s scoring for the night with a power play goal hitting top net with a wrist shot with less than four minutes remaining in the third period.
Quebec head coach Roy was a happy man following his team shutout victory.
“We played a very good game yesterday, today we were solid, we didn’t gave lots of scoring chances we also didn’t conceded lots of shots to Cape Breton, Jimmy (Appleby) did make good saves, I’m very happy for him,” the head coach exclaimed. “He works very hard in every practice; it wasn’t an easy situation for him. As a starting goaltender today he answered the challenge very well.”
After a deserved rest tomorrow, Quebec will return on the ice on Tuesday for a practice in preparation for Wednesday’s game against Val-d’Or Foreurs.
The team will go on the road for the game in Halifax against the Mosseheads on Saturday December 11; on December 12 Quebec will visit the Moncton Wildcats before coming back in front of their fans on Friday December 17 hosting the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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