Quebec-forward-Austin-Eastman-13-scores-Quebec-second-goal-in-second-periods-photo-courtesy-of-Eric-Lamirande-of-infosportquebec
QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Perfect on first weekend of 2017-18 regular season in Chicoutimi and Baie-Comeau, Quebec opened its hone season on Friday night with victory against Shawinigan. On Saturday afternoon, Quebec faced-off against Gatineau keeping a perfect record winning for a fourth times shutting out the Olympiques 3-0 to keep a perfect record 4-0 in four games. Beside Baribeau who registered his first shutout in 2017-18, his second one in career, Olivier Garneau earns second stars with a goal and an assist.
“I was concentrated, it was fine everything was fine,” answered Quebec goaltender Dereck Baribeau who registered his first shutout in 2017-18. “We have very good defense,” continued the recent Minnesota Wild signees who took part of the NHL team training camp as an invitee.
“We have six guys and four of them can be top four everywhere in the league, even he forwards works very hard in our zone we gave almost nothing, all the shots I got came from the outside. It made my game very simple for me.”
“You can’t ask for better start, four wins in four games, we won’t wins every game this year but with the effort we gave we can go very far. It is very special this year, we are a real team this year, we play for the guy beside us so it is very special and it help a lot.” Said Baribeau, coming in Quebec via a trade with Val-d’Or Foreurs last year.
Quebec opened the scoring on their first shot in the game. Quebec center Olivier Garneau left no chance to Gatineau goaltender Mathieu Bellemare who has been beaten by Quebec right winger’s wrist shot over his left shoulder 1:52 into first period.
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Gatineau got the first power play opportunity in the game as Quebec defenseman Christian Huntley, had been found guilty for checking from behind. Unfortunately for visitors, their power play only last 37 seconds as forward Anthony Gagnon went in the box for high sticking.
Quebec dominated 11-4 in shots on goal after first twenty minutes of play. Philippe Boucher’s team also did very well in face-off circle winning 11 face-off losing only three times.
Quebec added to their lead in second half of the middle frame. Putting pressure in Gatineau zone, Quebec defenseman Thomas Dajcar missed his shot on net, but teammate Austin Eastman took the rebound only had to shot it in almost empty net, as Olympiques netminder already made first move on Quebec defenseman initial shot. Eastman goal came at 9:08.
Going 0-in-6 on the power play, Quebec was the beneficiary of five-on-three power play following a melee with less than three minutes of play. Quebec forward Dereck Gentile scored Remparts third goals at 18:25 in third period keeping their perfect record staying in great company with Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, Victoriaville Tigres and Rouyn-Noranda.
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“We played like this,” answered Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher in reference of the number of shot allowed by Quebec after forty minutes (8 shots). “We have six defensemen who can play like I said to Ben (assistant coach Benoit Desrosiers), we have had two in penalty box at the end of the game and four others who can continued to play in all situations. It is a luxe we have. The other team missed two good players so we took advantage of it. We played great hockey and it was good to see it. We execute, defensively we did not gave too many opportunities and when we gave some Baribeau was very good.”
On Gatineau side, the Olympiques head coach Eric Landry was the first to admit his team did not play well, “In first two periods we did not skates enough and Quebec played very well,” was how Olympiques head coach Eric Landry resumed his team play.
Quebec will go on the road for a three games in three nights next week. On Friday October 6th the team will visit Halifax. On next Saturday Quebec will stop in Charlottetown and on Sunday Quebec will end their weekend in Acadie-Bathurst facing the Titans.
Six other games were on QMJHL schedule on Saturday
Val-d’Or 1 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 2
Chicoutimi 2 vs. Sherbrooke 4
Acadie-Bathurst 3 vs. Halifax 4
Charlottetown 1 vs. Moncton 2
Baie-Comeau 5 vs. Drummondville 8
Rouyn-Noranda 4 vs. Victoriaville 7
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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