QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — The Quebec Remparts ended their home portion of the 2010-11 regular seasons on a winning note defeating Shawinigan 4- 3 in front of 11,478 fans.
Joe Dube, with two goals and one assist (including the game winning goal) played a solid game with teammates Mirko Hoefflin (1g-2a) and John Audy-Marchessault (1g-1a). Usually playing on fourth line as center, Patrick Roy thought to use them together several times.
Photo by Serge Poulin
“I thought about reuniting those three several times lately and I said to myself why not,” Quebec head coach said answering a question about the line performance in the game. “To reunite them give a chance to stabilize the other lines giving to other players a chance to perform. John (Audy-Marchessault) played good game but Dube (Joey) took the chance and also played great game.
Roy didn’t miss the opportunity to also talk about veteran Joel Champagne and Tomas Filippi, both ended their game with only one assist but both were dangerous every time they were on the ice.
“Joel can play with anyone on this team, as far as Filippi is concern he play with more competitiveness and that’s the kind of hockey we want to see from Filippi and he can do it.”
As far as the game itself, Quebec saw their opponent take a 2-0 lead after 29:39 of the game before breaking the ice with their first goal. Shawinigan left winger Peter Sakaris who ended the game with two of the Cataractes three goals tool his own rebound beating Quebec goaltender Louis Domingue on his left side at 14:35 of the opening period.
The visitora took a 2-0 lead with the help of a power play. With Quebec forward Mathieu Lavalle in the box for interference (9:19) Shawinigan wasted no time scoring their second goal only 20 seconds after the Quebec penalty began.
Domingue made the save on first shot by Cataractes defenseman Ryan Cavanagh but unable to keep the rebound Anton Zlobin took it went behind the net and slides the puck behind Remparts netminder on the other side for their unique goal in that circumstance. They have had three other chances without being able to score.
“Very satisfied,” were the first words from Roy. “We almost did everything except scoring little more goals. Girard was excellent as it used to be against us. He used to play great games against us.”
After being scoreless in his last 17 games Mirko Hoefflin got Quebec on board for the first time in the game redirecting a shot taken by Filippi following a great first pass on the play by Champagne, Hoefflin redirection beat Girard on his glove side 3:11 after Shawinigan second goal.
Roy praised the work of Hoefflin on his goal, “I found he (Hoefflin) played much better lately, offensively he didn’t have the points he would like to have but he play good on both side of the ice.”
Photo by Serge Poulin
Veteran forward Marchessault for whom it was his last regular season game brought both teams back to square one scoring his 40th goal of the year and becoming the fifth QMJHL 40 goals scorer when he beat Shawinigan goaltender with a backhanded shot at 17:55 of the second period.
“It was a good game, we began the game little bit slowly but in second and third it was the kind of team we would like to see,” Marchessault said. “We worked hard, we have to go to the net we need to crash the net we have to put pressure on their defensemen and we need to get the puck out of our zone as fast as we can. In second and third we were able to do that.”
Answering questions about his own performance and the fact he became the fifth QMJHL 40th scorers, Marchessault recognized it was a good accomplishment but preferred to talk about the team performance.
“For me personally it’s a good accomplishment but I like more to talk about the team performance. Before the game I would like more to put the team back on right tract instead of my personal record. But it’s sure it was a good accomplishment for me this year.”
Talking about his goal he added, “Sure it was a great goal, but it was an important goal more than anything else. It gave us the opportunity to come back in the game. I like my experience of playing with Joey (Dube) and Mikrko (Hoefflin). A guy like Joey got a heart as big as the teams; as far as Mirko is concern he is one of the fastest skaters it’s great to see him play, so playing with both of them is very funny.”
Quebec regained the lead 3-2 on a perfect tic-tac-toe play between Hoefflin Ryan Culkin ending with first goal of the game by Dube at 5:14.
Shawinigan tied the game 3-3 with Sakaris second goal of the game at 8:51, but Dube came back 4:31 seconds later with his second of the game, nailing his former team coffin for the night.
Photo by Serge Poulin
“It was fun for sure, I worked hard and I was rewarded,” Dube said after scoring twice against his former team. “I began the game trying to keep things simple, I had my chance and took it when it came and it went well.” Said the one who begins the game on fourth lines but ended on first one.
Quebec will get back in action next Friday visiting the Chicoutimi Sagueneens before concluding the regular season next Sunday March 20 against Baie-Comeau Drakkar.
Other games in QMJHL
Saint John 4 vs. Cape Breton 1
Moncton 3 vs. Prince Edward Island 5
Baie-Comeau 0 vs. Montreal 7
Gatineau 5 vs. Lewiston 8
Rouyn-Noranda 1 vs. Rimouski 6
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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