Quebec bounce back winning game two

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Losing first game of quarterfinal series the night before in a 2-3-2 series due to the distance between the two cities, Quebec played much better being more aggressive on the puck in game two winning 3-0 on Sunday afternoon. Making his own mea culpa in game one, admitting he should have made couple more saves in last night game, that could kept his team in the game, Quebec goaltender has been perfect closing the door on Charlottetown stopping all 25 shots registering his first shutout of 2017-18 QMJHL playoff.

“Like I said yesterday it will be a long battle, it is important not to be down for a period or a game, lots of things will happens in that series so we will have to be ready to bounce back mentally.” Quebec first stars of the game Antoine Samuel said near Quebec locker room.

“We have had success on the road in recent game so we will approach the game like we did here,” continue Quebec veteran netminder Samuel. “They won one game here so we could win one or two games there, we will prepare ourselves and be ready to play in Charlottetown.” Samuel said talking about the perspective of going to play next three games in Charlottetown.

Quebec captain Matthew Boucher was happy too the way his team bounce back after losing first game on Saturday. “We weren’t satisfied about the way we played last night,” Quebec captain Matthew Boucher said about his team got out yesterday.

“It wasn’t the way we want to get out, we studied them too long in first two periods and in third we went out flat. Tonight, we kept it simple, we put lot of pressure on their defensemen and it worked pretty well. We put the puck deep in their zone, so if you arrive first on the puck, we have it first. Yes we were more physical, it gave us chance to get the puck and have more times to make our play.” Continued Boucher.

Hoping to see his true team after the loss in first game Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher was definitely happier about the final result. It is better to go in Charlottetown to play next three games being tied 1-1 in the series than going there 0-2.

“Yes, I think the bus ride would be much longer if we would go trailing 0-2 than being 1-1,” answered Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher after his team won game two of quarterfinal series. “I have hard time to explain what happened yesterday, it wouldn’t give anything to try to understand what happened yesterday, and we saw the true Quebec Remparts today. We worked hard, we were on the puck, we were engaged, and that is what our team is.” Quebec head coach Boucher said.

Quebec broke the ice in game two as the penalty to Charlottetown forward Cayse Ton ended Jesse Sutton only had to backhand it behind Charlottetown goaltender Matthew Welsh with 9:46 to play in first period. .Matthew Groutchy took first shot saved by Islanders netminder.

Quebec added a second goal to their lead couple minutes later. Quebec captain Matthew Boucher though he had scored but unable to control rebound Olivier Garneau scored his first of the playoff at 10:14.

A turnover in Charlottetown defensive zone led to Quebec to their third goal in the game, first in second periods. Losing the puck along the board, Charlottetown defenseman, Olivier Desjardins saw Quebec right winger Pascal Laberge picking up loose puck, his slap shot left no chance to Islanders netminder, beating Welsh over his left shoulder at 5:18.

Selected in first round 23rd overall in 2017 by Arizona Charlottetown defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph gave credit to Quebec for the way they played in game two.

“They came out very strong, Samuel did very well in front of Quebec goal, it is ok it was just one game and we will play the way we use to at home. I don’t think so, we want to take it one game at the time, we have had the chance to win game one, we just have to work as hard as we did in game one to be able to get out with the win.” Islanders defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph said.

“They came out with lots of speed, two guys left alone in slot, they capitalized on their opportunities. We also had great scoring chances but we were able to put it in.” Explained Joseph, the Arizona first round selection in 2017.

“Whole different game,” answered Charlottetown head coach Jim Hulton. “Lot of bounced puck but that’s playoff, we should play better in first half of the game, we have to push Samuel made couple big saves at key moments in second half of second periods, momentum could have been swung sides, that is playoff. They got the momentum with their first goal just as our penalty ended. Continued Islanders head coach Hulton.