QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Losing ten days ago in Rimouski in a very physical game, Quebec took their revenge in front of 6,724 fans reunited in the Videotron Center defeating the Oceanic 6-2. Quebec captain Matthew Boucher with two goals, Mikael Robidoux with one goal one assist led Quebec offensive on Wednesday night.
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Dominating the initial first period in shots on goal 13-3, Quebec has been the beneficiary of several scoring chances without been able to get a puck behind Rimouski goaltender Colton Ellis.
Scoring chances from Quebec side came from Dereck Gentile, Luke Kirwan and on two-on-one breakaway Jeremy Laframboise made pass to Olivier Mathieu missing his chance.
Best scoring chance from Oceanic came from the stick of Dmitry Zavgorodniy hitting the right post to Quebec goaltender Olivier Chalifour for whom it was his first start getting two wins both in overtime.
Each team got one chance with a man up neither has been successful. Unable to take advantage of five-on-three power play for 24 seconds and a five-on-four for 1:00, Quebec scored twice in span of 2:04.
Quebec broke the ice at even strength as Jesse Sutton wrist shot beat Oceanic netminder over left shoulder with 15:54 to play in middle frame.
Fourth line combo Thomas Caron and Olivier Mathieu united their effort to contribute offensively as the left winger Mathieu scored his fourth of the season on perfect pass from Caron with 13:50 to play in second period.
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Quebec add a third goals to their lead in second periods. Taking lose puck behind Rimouski goal Quebec forward Mikael Robidoux made pass to teammate defenseman Christian Huntley scoring his first of the regular season at 11:29.
Quebec scored a fourth goal before the second period ended. In a two-on-one breakaway, Mikael Robidoux went on breakaway with Loui-Philip Cote. Robidoux beat Oceanic goalie Ellis over his left shoulder with 1:04 remaining to the middle frame.
Rimouski head coach Serge Beausoleil decided to begin the third period pulling his starting goalie Ellis to replace him by Jimmy Lemay précising that his decision had nothing to do with Ellis performance.
“Colten Ellis has nothing to do with what happened tonight,” Oceanic head coach Beausoleil said answering question about his decision to make a goaltender change to begin the third period.
“We should have had several players playing in front of him. We have been very slow in all our action. It was a question of nervousness we did not move our feet in lots of occasions and it wasn’t acceptable.”
Dominated in first forty minutes of play, visitor played better in third period scoring two goals. First one came from Samuel Dove-McFalls as his shot went over Quebec goalie left shoulder on their 8th shots on goal at 2:25.
Been 1-in-4 on their power play Quebec scores a second goal with the help of the power play. Captain Matthew Boucher on perfect pass from Luke Kirwan beat Jimmy Lemay on left side at 3:51.
Rimouski adds a second goal as Alex-Olivier Voyer beat Chalifour over his left shoulder on Oceanic 15th shots on goal at 13:48.
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Matthew Boucher came back with his second of the game with 1:45 remaining in the game scoring on breakaway.
Already registering two wins each time as he came in relief of Quebec goalie Dereck Baribeau, Olivier Chalifour made his first start in the QMJHL in front of their parents and friends.
“Guys made fun of me as they said it was my first real victory, but I think it was the easiest game I played on the three games I was in. Guys really played very well in front of me they help me making it easier for me, so it is fun to be in goal in those circumstances.” Quebec goaltender Olivier Chalifour said after the game.
Ending the game with one goal one assist, earning the first stars of the game Mikael Robidoux drops his gloves facing Jason Stewart of the Oceanic with less than six minutes in the game.
“We knew we have are a team with speed, we can play big game, we did it again tonight,” said Mikael Robidoux. “We showed what we can do. For sure it is a big rivalry it is a little plus when we beat them.”
Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher praise his players after the game saying,” We talked about it before the game, the momentum is a predominant in junior hockey and we haven’t had any reason to doubt that we played very good game last Sunday in Blainville-Boisbriand, so we would like to bring in today’s game, play our style not be bother by the physical play or all the rest, we played well.”
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“Serge (Beausoleil Rimouski head coach) surely talked to his players after the second and we should expect a better performance in the beginning of the third, but for the rest we controlled the game for most of it.”
Quebec lost another defenseman in last Sunday game in Blainville-Boisbriand. With Andrew Pico who was out with upper body injury, rookie Thomas Dajcar got upper bogy injury and will be out for several weeks.
Quebec next game will be next Friday in Shawinigan facing off the Cataractes.
Two other games were on QMJHL schedule on Wednesday
Saint John 3 vs. Acadie-Bathurst 5
Rouyn-Noranda 5 vs. Shawinigan. 2
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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