Quebec end regular season on winning note defeating Rimouski in shootout

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Losing the night before in regulation time in Rimouski Quebec bounce back in their own building extending the excitement to the shootout before winning 3-2. Tied 2-2 after forty minutes of play, each teams got their chances in third periods to win it, but unable to do it in third or in overtime period, Quebec took their revenge getting the last word in shootout. Playing for Rimouski for most of his junior career Andrew Pico came to haunt his former team as he scored the goal that made the difference.

“I was pretty chock when head coach tell me to go, I said send someone else, coach said no go, go. So I went there, I tried a few times I practice and it didn’t worked out, but it was pretty cool,” Quebec defenseman Andrew Pico said.

“One other time,” answered the hero of the game when he was asked if he ever had to go in shootout. It’s been awhile I’m not a shooter guy. It was really exciting, it was pretty special especially against my former team.” Continued Pico when he was asked how it felt to score in those circumstances.

“I’m happy about the collective effort,” Rimouski head coach Serge Beausoleil said after his team played minus six players as the game was meaningless for the Oceanic as last night wins against Quebec gave them the Eastern division championship.

“In first period we did not began the way we wanted it, we were less in shoot line, and circulation was dense in front of our net. When we came back in second I appreciate much more, it was a happy ending for Quebec fans.” Oceanic head coach Beausoleil said.

“When we talked together this week, you asked me what should I expected? I said, I don’t know what, but I will expect something special might happen. Yesterday it has been fun for Rimouski fans, we would like to win but you didn’t found any deceived fans at Rimouski yesterday. Today I was little deceived after first two periods, sure we miss important players in the lineup, I didn’t like some details of the game, but I was sure we could come back in half hours and we will be happy. So it really happened something special with Pico successfully put it in.” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said.

“It began by Antoine Samuel who has been very solid all game long, after Matt (Boucher) kept us alive in the shootout and Pico (Andrew) who stole the show at the end.” Remparts head coach Boucher said.

“He told me five times that he wouldn’t wanted to go, I told him to go, to be honest, we followed other teams and Pico already went in shootout 13 or 14th one to win the game, I think he had been injured in that game and he came back, so I have had a really good souvenir of that, we would like to shoot last to give a chance to our fans maybe to Matt to give us the win, but instead he tied it and after he told me four or five times that he wouldn’t wanted to go I said go. I told him never second guess your coach.” Ended Quebec head coach Boucher.

After honoring the three veteran 20-year old players who played their last regular season game in QMJHL goaltender Antoine Samuel, defenseman Andrew Pico and captain and center Matthew Boucher Quebec opened the scoring 7:09 into the first period. The long shot by defenseman Andrew Pico beat Rimouski goaltender Jimmy Lemay between his pads.

Less than ten minutes later Quebec adds a second goal to their leads. Shooting from the blue line defenseman Braeden Virtue saw his shot been redirect by center Matthew Boucher surprising Oceanic netminder for second times between Jimmy Lemay’s pads at 16:07.

Successive penalties to Quebec defenseman Benjamin Gagne and captain Matthew Boucher gave Rimouski a five-on-three power play for 59 seconds. Taking advantage of the two men advantage Rimouski broke the ice cutting Quebec lead in half. Oceanic defenseman Chase Stewart shot beat Quebec goaltender Antoine Samuel over his right shoulder at 6:39. It was the first goal allowed by Quebec in their last 28 shorthanded situation.

Already going 1-in-2 on power play Oceanic took advantage of another penalty to Quebec this time to Quebec defenseman Sam Dunn. Making save on first Oceanic shot by Denis Mikhnin Quebec netminder couldn’t do anything on rebound taken by Alex-Olivier Voyer who only had to put it in at 10:32.

With the score being tied Rimouski got two more power play chances without been able to get a puck behind Quebec netminder. On the other side getting only one chance in first two periods, Quebec got two other in third but like Quebec goalie did in third Oceanic netminder closed the door forcing both teams to go in overtime.

Playing three-on-three in overtime Quebec got another chance on power play playing four-on-three for two minutes following the penalty to veteran Rimouski right winger Mathieu Nadeau. As neither team was success in overtime game went on shootout.

After Gregor MacLeod for Quebec and Alex-Olivier Voyer saw respective goaltender made the save, Denis Mikhnin beat Quebec goalie Samuel giving the lead to Rimouski. Pascal Laberge for Quebec and Mathieu Nadeau saw their shot been blocked, so Quebec life was in hand of Quebec captain Matthew Boucher. As Boucher kept Quebec team alive as he score to tie the shootout, Mathieu Bizier saw his shot saved by Samuel.

Like a Hollywood scenario former Rimouski defenseman Andrew Pico has been the man who might gave the victory to Quebec if he scored. Guess what? Scoring his first goal this season in last game of the year, the former Oceanic defenseman beat Jimmy Lemay to give Quebec the victory in shootout 3-2.

Quebec first two quarter-finals games will be on March 24 and 25 against Charlottetown Islanders in a 2-3-2 format since more than 600 kilometer separate the two towns.

Eight other games were on QMJHL schedule on Saturday night.