QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Losing for the first time in 2012-13 seasons last Sunday against Blainville-Boisbriand, the Quebec Remparts bounced back in winning 4-1 against Gatineau Olympiques.
Leading 2-1 after the first period and 3-1 after forty minutes Patrick Roy’s team still hold first place overall with 16 points of a possible 18. Mikhail Grigorenko was the best offensive player for the visiting team with three points, two goals in the game. Adam Erne with two points (1g-1a) earns the first stars.
“I’m very happy about the performance of the team,” Roy said after the game.
“I found we played with consistency from the beginning until the end, I adored the way we worked defensively. I can’t pinpoint any particular aspect of the game that I’m not satisfied. I was anxious to see how we would react following the loss against Blainville-Boisbriand I find we bounced back very well.”
The Quebec head coach didn’t seem surprised about his netminder reaction following the goal (the only one by Gatineau) Francois Brassard gave, a goal the Gatineau native would certainly like to have back.
“Honestly it didn’t surprised me,” said the Remparts head coach Roy about his goaltender reaction. “It’s for sure when you see a goal like that one you have some tendency to become little bit nervous, but I must say that he pulled himself together the rest of the game. He made key saves in third period, it could easily become 3-2. He was very solid keeping the door closed.”
Talking about Grigorenko, the Quebec head coach praised the work of his Russian center.
“I have to admit that Martin Lefebvre made very great pass on Grigorenko first goal of the game, the speed Erne entered the zone, but people, would certainly like to see Grigorenko’s shot.”
Finally Roy underlined the work by the line with Pierre-Maxime Poudrier, Jason Houde and Axel Rioux. None of the three names were on the scoring sheet but they did an admiring job on the ice.
“Honestly they have a great chemistry this line works very well, the moved the puck well they might not be always rewarded for the work they done on the ice because they should have earns to score goal more than one occasions. But they filled their role very well, they were superb in penalty killing situations so it’s an aspect of the game that is very important.” Said Roy.
Quebec breaks the ice first for ninth times in regular season with Nick Sorensen 4th goal of the year. Sorensen beat Gatineau goaltender Michael Nishi to his left side with a low shot, Ryan Culkin and Brandon Shea got the assist with only 1:05 gone in the initial period.
Quebec doubled their lead with Adam Erne 4th of season at 13:36. After Nishi made first save on Duncan MacIntyre shot from the blue line, Gatineau netminder pushed the puck in front of him hoping one of his defensemen will take care of the rebound. Instead Quebec left winger picked the loose puck and put it behind the netminder for Quebec second goals.
Dominated by Quebec (territorially speaking) the Olympiques found a way to reduce their opponent lead in half with their first goal. Unable to keep the rebound, Quebec goaltender Francois Brassard, saw Taylor Burke get Gatineau first marker at 17:20 of the opening period.
Playing with fire you run the risk to be burn. Already being success (0-in-3) shutting out the best power play in the league ( Quebec) at 36.6 percent, Gatineau saw the visitor adding first goal with a man advantage.
Mikhail Grigorenko gave no chance to the former Ottawa 67’s property before the regular season, in the Ontario Hockey League, with a one-timer for Quebec’s third goal at 15:01.
Adam Chapman for Benoit Groulx team was in the penalty box serving a too many men penalty for Gatineau.
After Brassard prevent the Olympiques to come back in the game with two key saves against Martin Reway and Olivier Knight-Rouleau, Grigorenko scored Quebec fourth goals, his second of the night beating the Toronto native high on Nishi right side with 3:43 remaining in the third periods.
Quebec’s next game will be next Wednesday when they visit the Saint John Sea Dogs.
Seven other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday Val-d’Or 3 vs. Moncton 4 Acadie-Bathurst 3 vs. Prince Edward Island 4 (overtime) Rouyn-Noranda 5 vs. Saint John 6 (shootout) Blainville-Boisbriand 7 vs. Sherbrooke 0 Halifax 5 vs. Drummondville 2 Baie-Comeau 2 vs. Rimouski 4 Chicoutimi 6 vs. Shawinigan 1
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