QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Beginning a four-game road trip with the first stop in Sherbrooke to face the Phoenix, Quebec needed the shootout to finally put an end to a second three-game losing streak of the year winning 6-5 in shootout. Frederic Bergeron and Anthony Duclair were Quebec best forwards with two goals each.
After losing in Quebec against Baie-Comeau last Friday, Quebec left for Sherbrooke hoping to win the game after losing five of the last six games without two of their best players in Mikhail Grigorenko and Nick Sorensen.
After being the first team to get on the board with Jason Houde 11th of the year, surprising veteran goaltender Jacob Gervais-Chouinard to his right side (1:27), Patrick Roy’s team saw their opponent score the next two goals to take a 2-1 lead. But Quebec ended the initial period on stronger note scoring two goals to retreat to their locker room leading by one 3-2.
Traded last summer to Sherbrooke veteran right winger Alexandre Contois scored Phoenix’s first goal playing with a man advantage (first power play in the game). Contois’s one-timer left no chance to Quebec goaltender Zachary Fortin at 4:00.
Alex Hazelhurst gave the lead to Sherbrooke for the first time in the game. Seing Quebec goalie makes the first save, Phoenix center took a second shot that hit Fortin’s back before going in at 6:50.
Bergeron brought both teams back to square one with Quebec second goal in first period. Bergeron’s shot seem to surprise Sherbrooke veteran netminder when he tried to make the save with his glove at 10:15.
Duclair gave 3-2 lead to Quebec with his 13th goal of the season when the puck slowly went through Gervais-Chouinard’s pads with 3:06 remaining to the opening period.
Being involved in an offensive first period with Quebec leading by one after first twenty minutes of play, Sherbrooke was the only team to score, tying the game on controversy goal. Two former Quebec Remparts players united their effort on tying goal. Coming out from behind the net Sherbrooke center and former Remparts Michael McNamee beat Fortin on his left side with 4:35 gone in middle frame.
Not sure the puck crossed the goal line behind Fortin the referee needed video replay before allowing the goal to McNamee who received a great pass from veteran Contois for Sherbrooke’s third goal.
Beginning the third period 3-3 with first goal of the game by former Remparts forward McNamee, the Phoenix center gave the lead to Sherbrooke 4-3 with his second of the game at 6:21.
Trailing for the second time in the game Quebec came back with the next two goals in 1:27 to lead 5-4. Bergeron with his second of the game 14:18 tied the game 4-4 and Anthony Duclair made 5-4 Quebec with 4:15 remaining to the period.
Playing with confidence to finally win a game after losing their last five games in six Quebec head coach Roy saw Sherbrooke come back with their fifth goal of the game scored by Simon Desbiens with 2:41 to go.
A penalty to Sherbrooke defenseman Vladislav Lysenko with 2:03 remaining forced the home team to try to kill the penalty. Fortunately for Phoenix head coach Judes Vallee his team was able to kill the penalty bringing both teams in overtime.
Unable to find a winner the teams went to the shootout. The first shooter on both sides scores goal, Quebec got the last word with defenseman Ryan Culkin beating Sherbrooke goalie being the 13th shooters before finding the winner.
Quebec will begin 2013 on the road playing first two games of the New Year first in Rouyn-Noranda facing the Huskies on Friday January 4
Seven other games were on QMJHL schedule on Sunday
Prince Edward Island vs. Acadie-Bathurst (postpone to later date due to bad weather)
Saint John vs. Moncton (postpone to later date to bad weather)
Chicoutimi 1 vs. Baie-Comeau 2
Gatineau 6 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 5 (shootout
Val-d’Or 8 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 6
Drummondville 3 vs. Shawinigan 2 (overtime)
Rimouski 6 vs. Victoriaville 5 (shootout)
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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