QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Needing time in the first period to find their rhythm, Quebec scored twice in the first period then once in the third opening their 2016-17 season with a 3-0 win against the Chicoutimi Sagueneens.
Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher was happy to see his team win their first game but also praised his team work in game.
Images courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux from infosportquebec
“We have seen great things during the training camp and we continued to see some tonight. Sure we have things that we have to work on but you can’t find too many shutouts in the QMJHL,” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said after the game.
“We did good things we moved the puck pretty well, it has been long time to be able to roll four lines like tonight. Everyone contributed, everyone played and it is good to see.” Continued Boucher.
For Chicoutimi head coach Yanick Jean, his team wasn’t ready to play the game and he looked for explanation.
Images courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux from infosportquebec
“We didn’t touch the puck,” Jean said after a reporter asked what was his impression after Quebec third goals. “That wasn’t what made the difference in the game, we didn’t touch the puck. We weren’t ready to play that game we weren’t the same caliber of them forget it. We were sloppy, we gave them the puck seven times during a power play in second period. We didn’t come out.”
“Yes we missed four players, but they weren’t there, whether we cried or try to do our best and tonight we didn’t come out. I don’t know if we tried to do too much because of players who weren’t there but we didn’t move the puck well.” Chicoutimi head coach Boucher said near visitor locker room.
After a slow start Quebec opened the scoring when Ethan Crossman wrist shot beat Chicoutimi goaltender Julio Billia between his pads at 5:48.
Quebec came back less than eight minutes later scoring a second goal. Philipp Kurashev in a two-on-one made perfect pass to Matthew Boucher scoring his first of the year at 11:48.
Images courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux from infosportquebec
Both teams got one chance each with their power play but neither team was able to puck the puck behind opponent netminders.
Quebec got only one chance to play with a man up as Chicoutimi right hand defenseman Julian Carignan-Labbe has been found guilty of high sticking but the visitor successfully killed the penalty.
After a scoreless second period only one goal was scored in the third period. After Quebec left winger Louis Philippe Cote forced Sagueneens netminder Bellia to make first save Quebec defenseman Christian Huntley only had to backhanded the puck in the empty net. Thinking the Chicoutimi netminder had been victim of obstruction after further review referee allowed the goal and Quebec ads a third goal to their leads. The goal came at 16:49.
Images courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux from infosportquebec
Author of the Quebec second goal Matthew Boucher was really happy after the game. “We didn’t have too many things we did badly, said the new Quebec captain near Quebec locker room. For sure it was a first game, we have to learn as a team we have lots of work to do again. For a first outing in 2016-17 it was very good.”
Quebec will return in action Sunday hosting the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
Eight other games were on QMJHL schedule on September 23-2016
Acadie-Bathurst 2 vs. Cape Breton 3
Saint John 2 vs. Charlottetown 6
Halifax 3 vs. Moncton 4
Rimouski 5 vs. Baie-Comeau 0
Drummondville 4 vs. Gatineau 1
Sherbrooke 4 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 3 (shootout)
Victoriaville 4 vs. Shawinigan 3
Blainville-Boisbriand 2 vs. Val-d’Or 3
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.