Photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Having already blanked Victoriaville Friday (4-0), Quebec almost repeated the trick Wednesday night in Videotron center. Leading by four with almost 12:00 minutes remaining Quebec won 4-2 defeating the same Tigres for second time in a week. Back from injury, Remparts captain Matthew Boucher ended his game with a goal and assist.
“The weekend did not start on Wednesday usually but it feel good beginning a series of three games in four nights with a win, we will face a very good team on Friday in Saint John, same thing on Saturday with Val-d’Or so beginning it with a wins it is very positive,” answered Quebec captain Matthew Boucher near the Quebec locker room.
After missing the last two games due to an injury below the waist Boucher ended the game with two points scoring Quebec first goal in the game, “It wasn’t a great game for me but the only important thing is I tried to help the team to win. It’s never easy to come back after an injury, but it is nice to help the team win.” Boucher said about his performance.
Callum Booth did a very good job in front of Quebec net. Defending the net last Friday in Victoriaville he registered his first shutout of the season making 34 saves. On Wednesday he almost repeated it losing his shutout with less than 11:00 remaining in the game as former Quebec defenseman Vincent Lenoue beat him twice.
“As a Team we played very well against Victoriaville, personally my defensemen and forwards really helped me out in both games. They didn’t have had second chances after the first shot so it went very well. Everyone would want to continue for the other two games.” Quebec goaltender Callum Booth said after the game.
On Victoriaville side, Tigres head coach Louis Robitaille admitted his team didn’t played well. “We began the game flat, we look in the standing more than playing and stay concentrated on the game plan. We came back strong in the third period. The first goal (Quebec first goal) was a lucky goal a rebound from the board, but we can’t let it go. We have the offensive to score goals but we woke up too late. We played in the perimeter all night for first fifty minutes. When we decided to drive the net going inside and put traffic in front of Booth we saw he was beatable. A goaltender of his caliber will make the save on long shot.” Victoriaville head coach Louis Robitaille said after the game.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
Quebec broke the ice in the opening period scoring on their fourth shot on goal. Boucher surprised Victoriaville goaltender James Povall between his pads and the right post with 14:18 to play in first period.
Booth made a key save on Tigres forward Alexandre Goulet preserving home team lead and began second period with 1:26 second of power play but Victoriaville successfully killed the penalty to their teammate Maxime Comtois.
Going 0-for-2 on the power play Quebec added to their lead playing at even strength. A long shot from the blue line by Raphael Maheux missed the net, rebound came on Remparts center Jesse Sutton scoring his first at 4:04.
Victoriaville was the beneficiary of a five-on-three for 46 seconds but Quebec kept their two-goal lead thanks to Booth who closed the door on Tigres offense.
Already 0-in-3 in first two periods Quebec got fourth chance to play with a man up and contrary to first three the home team got on board scoring their third goals in the game. The slapshot by Louis Philip Cote went through several players screening opponent netminder before going behind Povall at 2:02 of third period.
A pass from Philipp Kurashev from left goalie side came right to Derek Gentile’s stick beating Tigres goalie between his pads at 7:59.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
Trailing by four trying to change the momentum Victoriaville began to play more physical as Danyck Calgaro went after young 16-year old Andrew Coxhead. As veteran 20-year old playing on same line Yanick Turcotte came right to defend his young teammates been ejected of the game for been judged the aggressor. Turcotte might have to face the discipline committee because the penalty has been access with less than five minutes remaining.
Formerly playing with Quebec, and Val d’Or playing now for Victoriaville, defenseman Vincent Lenoue scored Tigres first goal in almost 50 minutes in two games if we included last Friday game between same two teams as Quebec blanked Victoriaville (4-0), Lenoue beat Quebec goaltender Callum Booth with a wrist shot from the slot at 11:01.
Lenoue came back less than eight minutes later with his second goal in the third period at 19:25.
Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher gave credit to his team and Callum Booth.
Photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
“We played well against Chicoutimi here and there in Chicoutimi, it is a very good team, they won all their games except the two against us. Beside the last five minutes in third period we played really well, Booth has been phenomenal he played very well today.” Answered Remparts head coach Philippe Boucher as he was asked to access his team performance.
Quebec will continue its series of three games in four nights on Friday hosting Saint John Sea Dogs.
Two other games were on QMJHL schedule on Wednesday night
Rimouski 3 vs cape Breton 5
Gatineau 4 vs. Saint John 5 (overtime)
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.