Quebec dominate Halifax in Videotron Center

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Coming into Quebec the only undefeated team in the QMJHL Halifax represented a great challenge for the Remparts. Coming out of the gate scoring first two goals the home team never looked back handing the Mooseheads their first loss by the score of 6-2. Louis-Filip Cote played strongest game since the season began scoring twice adding three more assists earning the first stars in the game.

“It was a very good game, it went very well for us,” answered the heroes of the game Louis-Filip Cote. “It was my best night in my career as you said, I’m very happy for tonight. The stability on our line helped us a lot, it went very well tonight hoping it will continue for the rest of the year.”

“Yes it help for my confidence, I didn’t know what I do differently but it work for now.” Quebec left winger Cote said.

Three goals were scored in the opening period in Quebec, in one of the six games in QMJHL on Wednesday night.

Quebec broke the ice first for the fifth time in first six games, in 2018-19 against the only undefeated team in the league. Seeing teammate Aleksei Sergeev in the slot, Louis-Filip Cote, made perfect pass, to Sergeev scoring his second of the season at 7:14. Quebec forward beat Halifax goaltender Alexis Gravel on his right side.

The combination of Sergeev and Cote united their effort for Quebec second goal in the first period. Driving to the net, Louis-Filip Cote, beat Halifax netminder over his right shoulder at 12:02.

Going 0-in-2 with a man advantage in opening period, Halifax took advantage of their third power play opportunities as Mooseheads center, Samuel Asselin beat Quebec goaltender Dereck Baribeau, over his right shoulder with 6:09 remaining in first period.

Quebec took a two-goal lead in second period. Going along the board, Quebec right winger Spencer Blackwell, found teammate Olivier Mathieu scoring his first of the year beating Mooseheads netminder over his right shoulder 6:05 into middle frame.

Quebec came back 3:06 later scoring their fourth goal in the middle frame. Making a key save on Halifax Arnaud Durandeau the line of Philipp Krashev, Aleksei Sergeev and Louis-Filip Cote combined their effort leading to second goal of the night by Cote with 10:44 to play in second period.

Playing in shorthanded situation three-on-four Halifax scored their second goal in the game. Antoine Morand redirect a pass from Benoit-Olivier Groulx beating Quebec netminder Baribeau with 8:46 remaining to play in middle frame.

Leading by two after two periods of play, showing a record of two wins no loses all things looked promising for Patrick Roy’s team.

Kurashev, Sergeev and Cote continued their domination in that game with Philipp Kurashev scoring his second of the year completing the great effort by Cote getting his fourth points in the game 8:50 into the third period.

Scoring Quebec first goal in the opening period Aleksei Sergeev scored Quebec sixth goal in the game, his third of the season and his second in the game to complete Quebec scoring for the night in an empty net at 18:43.

“We were very solid, very happy about the team performance, we came out very well in first period, the line of Kurashev, Sergeev and Cote player very strong game,” Quebec head coach Patrick Roy said in his post-game press conference.

“They were on the puck, our four defensemen following the injury to Etienne Verrette and Braeden Virtue did an excellent Job against a team that got very great talents. Ending the game at four defensemen, the way we played I’m very proud of our guys. They worked very hard, I adored the intensity of our guy’s night in, night out, the consistency we showed, it is fun to see,” Continued the former Montreal and Colorado netminder in the NHL.

The victory was costly one for Quebec since defenseman Braeden Vitue left the game with shoulder injury. As Roy said after the game, “I’m not a doctor but it might be long, he won’t travel with us on weekend.”

Another defenseman left the game veteran 20 years old Etienne Verrette has been hit by a stick to an eye, again we didn’t have had any confirmation either in his case.

Quebec leave for a two-game road trip in Abitibi in Rouyn-Noranda on Friday and Val-d’Or on Saturday.