Quebec forces game seven on Tuesday night

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Trailing 2-3 in quarterfinal series, and matched in a do or die game, Quebec answered the pressure winning game six 5-2 against Charlottetown forcing a game seven in front of 7,760 fans. As Islanders goaltenders earned first star in game five with 41 saves on 42 shots, Quebec netminder Antoine Samuel played a strong game earning first stars making 34 saves on 36 Charlottetown shots on goal. Pascal Laberge scored what became the game winning goal in the beginning of third periods with only 1:08 gone.

“We won, it wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t have to be perfect at this time of the year, we didn’t have had too many bounce on our side maybe couples, Antoine (Samuel) has been solid puck hit post couple times, our defense play good.” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said after the game.

“We were nervous by moment but the important thing is to find a way to win and force a game seven. The only pleasure in a 2-3-2 format is to play last two games at home in front of our fans. To play game seven in front of our fans it will be exciting. They already are excited to play tomorrow.” Pursued Quebec head coach Boucher

For one, Pascal Aquin took the blame for his team loss pointing his own finger at himself for the penalty he took in third that prevented his team of a chance to tie the game as the team trailed by one 2-3.

“It has been a very good game, we knew they would bounced back, they didn’t wanted to end their season, so we will come back stronger tomorrow,” Charlottetown left winger Aquin.

“I took bad penalty at the end of the game it was completely my fault on the penalty I took we were in power play. I took the blame hundred percent.” Islanders veteran forward Aquin admitted.

As far as Visiting head coach Jim Hulton, he knew the series would be a hard fought series. “I’m excited, if anybody asked us in September when everybody picked us at 18th, I think we gladly take game seven. I think we didn’t have had easy way out this season. You know this series is fitting up it is terrific playoff series, I guess you can expect the kind of game we have had tonight, the match up very little pick up choose, I think tomorrow night the game will go to the wire too as well.”

Dominating 15-8 in first period of game six having momentum for most of first period, Charlottetown saw the home team breaking the ice on their seventh shots on goal. Quebec defenseman Benjamin Gagne wrist shot neat slot beat Charlottetown goaltender Matthew Welsh under left arm at 28:13.

Previous scoring chances on Quebec side came from the stick of Jesse Sutton and Philipp Kurashev. Both teams got were beneficiary of first power play without been able to put the puck behind other netminders.

Going 1-in-24 in the series, 1-in-11 at home and 0-in-1 on power play Quebec put an end to their misery with a man up scoring their second goals in the game on their second power play opportunities.

With 1:29 left to Islanders penalty to Pascal Aquin taken at the end of first period, Quebec defenseman Christian Hunter wrist shot on great pass from Kurashev beat Welsh on his left side 0:35 seconds into middle frame.

Going 4-in-16 in series, 0-in-2 in the game Charlottetown get on board on their third chances with a man up. Traded at last QMJHL trading period former Quebec Remparts right winger Derek Gentile scored first Islanders goal, his second in the series beating Quebec goaltender Antoine Samuel on his left side with 8:01 remaining in middle frame.

Pascal Laberge gave back to Quebec their two goal leads with his second of the series. Coming out of penalty box Quebec right winger accepted great pass from teammate Matthew Boucher beating Islanders goalie at 1:08.

Playing on power play Quebec has been surprised by their opponent scoring their second goal in the game first one in shorthanded situation. Making first save on Cameron Askew first shot, Quebec goalie wasn’t able to do as he was beaten over his right shoulder with 15:13 to play in third periods.

Beneficiary of their fifth power plays in the game following a bad penalty taken by Quebec forward Pascal Laberge in offensive zone, another bad penalty taken by Charlottetown left winger Pascal Aquin cut Islanders power play chance preventing a chance to visiting team to tie the score.

Quebec replied by two other goals both in empty net by Olivier Garneau at 18:48 and Matthew Boucher at 19:45.

“It was the key word,” answered Quebec captain Matthew Boucher as he was asked if they worked hard on Monday night to force a game seven. “In game seven you never know what can happen, we played great game in game four and five, even in game three we didn’t like the way we played and that was the one we won. We worked hard, we blocked shots, we put good shots on net and it helped us. When you faced elimination it always stress so scoring goal in beginning of periods always help. We feel the stress a bit in locker room we want guys to be involved it was the key words to in the locker room, it calmed guys and it gave us confidence.” Continued Boucher.

For Quebec defenseman Benjamin Gagne who broke the ice with first goal of the game you never have any easy game. “In playoff you never have any easy game, the veteran defenseman Gagne said.

“You have game you need to work for sixty minutes and that is what we did tonight. You didn’t have any tomorrow for us so we are really happy to force game seven.”

Author of Quebec fourth goal even if it was in an empty net Olivier Garneau is a veteran on whom head coach Philippe Boucher count on. “Playing a do or die game like that I think we were nervous a little bit at the beginning of the game, it showed a little but after that, it went well. That is the way we should do in series that is the way we have to play to win game.” Quebec left winger Olivier Garneau said.

No other QMJHL quarterfinal series were on QMJHL schedule on Monday night.

Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com