Quebec opens weekend before Christmas with shut out of Baie-Comeau

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Coming out of very bad performance against Gatineau (8-1 loss) Quebec opened the last weekend before Christmas break by shutting out Baie-Comeau, 2-0. Designated as the goalie following the trade of Callum Booth, a trade that will become official next Sunday due to the rule concerning trading period, Evgeny Kiselev was perfect making 23 saves to register his fourth shutout of the regular season. Two goals in middle frame was all the Quebec Remparts needed to wins against the Drakkar.

Baie-Comeau and Quebec traded scoring chances in opening period without being able to get a puck crossing goal line of opponent goaltenders. Drakkar right winger A Jordan Martel got first great scoring chance for the visitor as his team played with man up. Martel beat Quebec veteran defenseman Raphael Maheux but fortunately for Quebec fans Evgeny Kiselev made glove save.

Edward St-Laurent and Eric Leger had two great scoring opportunities at even strength but on each times Quebec goalie made the saves.

On Quebec side Sean O’Brien got best scoring chance in opening periods on Drakkar penalty to Mikael Sabourin. Antoine Samuel Baie-Comeau goaltender made the save preventing Quebec to break the ice.

Quebec opened the scoring at even strength in middle frame. A perfect pass from defenseman Andrew Pico to Derek Gentile going on breakaway beating Baie-Comeau netminder Antoine Samuel over left shoulder with backhanded shot with 7:26 remaining in second period.

Quebec adds to their lead in shorthanded situation. As the team tried to kill a penalty to teammate Mikael Robidoux Olivier Garneau surprised Drakkar netminder Samuel with wrist shot scoring his 10th of the regular season at 13:46.

Trying to wake his team Baie-Comeau defenseman Mateo Pietronero dropped his glove against Quebec Yanick Turcotte won by Quebec enforcer

In third period, two fights broke-out between the same players. First time Mikhael Sabourin dropped his gloves against Alexandre Drapeau with the first fight going to Quebec defenseman with slight edge. Wanting his revenge following a check on the board, same two belligerents dropped their gloves a second times with 4:29 remaining Drapeau ended with the advantage.

“I think we began the game on good note, we played a good first period, after that for un-explicable reason, we felt in softness, we loses lots of battle along the board, we creates lots of turnover their two goals were direct results of turnovers, that is what explained, we weren’t able to come back to what we did in the beginning of the game,” resumed Baie-Comeau head coach Martin Bernard.

“When you loses your battle along the board, when you refused to place the puck that is the kind of things that happened to you,” continued Bernard to explain why his team has been 0-in-2 with a man advantage.

“We came out of things that brought us success lately and we paid the price tonight.”

“Sure that last Monday weren’t our best game,” admitted Quebec left winger Olivier Garneau. “To bounce back the way we did tonight against a team that play good, it is great for us. We played our game, giving our hundred percent when we work hard we have better chance to win. That is only what we did and it went well.” Garneau said.

Making 23 saves been perfect Quebec goaltender Evgeny Kiselev registered his fourth shutout of the regular season.

“Guys did the great job, I think everybody did very well tonight, it was perfect game for us I think. It was important t bounce back the way we did after bad performance like we did in our last game.” Quebec goaltender Evgeny Kiselev.

“It was bad experience last game for us so it was good to bounce back the way we did tonight.” Concluded Kiselev.

Already getting a win in replacement of Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher who went on recruiting mission as general manager Daniel Reneaud wins his second game as interim head coach.

“To be honest we challenged them before the game,” Quebec head coach Daniel Reneaud. “We have great guys, we have guys who work hard, we just needed to remind them to work shift after shift actually we see it in other times it is by sequence, when they worked over sixty minutes that is where we got great team.”

“In first we began the game slowly, I don’t think they didn’t work, we have had little problem of execution in first period. In second guys really step-up their game, I have hard time to identify a player who did not brought his best game in second periods. We really are happy about the effort they gave us tonight. Reneaud said.