Quebec opens weekend winning in Drummondville

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Playing two games on the road over the weekend the Quebec Remparts made first stop in Drummondville facing the Voltigeurs. Seeing his team trailing by two after first half in the opening period, the visitors replied scoring next five goals three with the help of the power play to lead by three after two periods. After seeing the Voltigeurs scoring next two goals to cut their leads to only one, Quebec finally was able to resist to finally signed a 5-4 wins in Drummondville.

Fans who came to see their favorite on Friday night in Marcel Dionne Center got lots of actions. Five goals were scored in first period. After their favorites forged a two goal leads inside first half of first period, Fans saw the visitor coming back with next three goals ending the opening period with 3-2 lead.

Drummondville open the scoring with 17:37 to play in first period. Guillaume Desmarais shot from the slot beat Quebec goaltender Evgeny Kiselev on his right side. For Desmarais it was his first QMJHL career goal.

Trying to kill to teammate Mathieu Sivigny, the Voltigeurs took advantage of confusion in Quebec zone and scored in shorthanded situation. Ryan Verbeek unassisted on backhanded shot beat Quebec netminder over his left shoulder with 10:03 left in opening period.

Quebec replied only 31 seconds later cutting Drummondville lead to only one goal as Mathieu Ayotte completed great pass from Dmitry Buynitskiy beating Voltigeurs Olivier Rodrigue over right shoulder at 10:28.

Visitor came back 2:08 later with their second goals in the game bringing both team back to square one as Olivier Garneau took his own rebound to score his 16th of the year at 12:35.

Derek Gentile on second Quebec power play opportunities in first period gave Quebec first lead in the game, redirecting a pass from former Victoriaville forward Mathieu Ayotte to beat Rodrigue low on left side with 1:11 remaining.

Ending first period leading by one scoring their third goal with the help of power plays, Quebec adds two more in same circumstances in the middle frame leading by three after forty minutes of play in Drummondville.

Already scoring Quebec second goals in the game Quebec captain in absence of Matthew Boucher, Olivier Garneau scores his second of the game as his team plays for third times in the game with a man up. Garneau surprised Voltigeurs netminder with his 17th of the regular season at 6:23.

Another players for Quebec who played solid game for the visiting team with two points in the game Mathieu Ayotte also scored his second of the game as he came from behind the net to put the puck in the net with 3:24 to go in second periods.

In hope of changing the momentum, Drummondville head coach Dominic Ducharme sent Emilien Boily in the net.

Scoring Voltigeurs second goal in the game, in shorthanded situation, Ryan Verbeek came back in third period scoring his second goal of the game this time with his team beneficiary of power play. The former Chicoutimi right winger who came in Drummondville in last QMJHL trading period wrist shot beat Kiselev on his right side with only six seconds gone on Quebec penalty to Mikael Robidoux.

Pulling his netminder with 2:30 remaining to the game Voltigeurs head coach Ducharme saw his team scoring fourth goal with 1:50 remaining. Mathieu Sevigny pushed the puck behind Quebec goalie for his 18th of the season.

Quebec next game will be in Shawinigan on Sunday afternoon facing the Cataractes.

Seven other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday night

Halifax 0 vs. Acadie Bathurst 9

Charlottetown 11 vs. Moncton 4

Saint John 7 vs. Victoriaville 3

Chicoutimi 2 vs. Baie-Comeau 1

Sherbrooke 2 vs. Gatineau 6

Rimouski 4 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 1

Cape Breton 5 Val-d’Or 6

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