Quebec register third OT win, this time against Victoriaville

Victoriaville-rigt-winger-Felix-Pare-89-trying-to-neutralize-Quebec-center-Jeremy-Laframboise-19-photo-courtesy-of-Jonathan-LHeureux-of-infosportquebec

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Coming from three games in three nights with two overtime wins, Quebec returned home to begin a three games in four nights with first two on Thursday and Friday before ending the weekend this Sunday with a visit in Rimouski. Trailing by three (4-1) after two periods of play against Victoriaville, Quebec came from behind scoring three times in the third to force extra time. With only 26 seconds gone in overtime period second goal in the game by Quebec defenseman Benjamin Gagne led Quebec to 5-4 overtime win.

“It was a team effort,” the hero of the game Benjamin Gagne said after the game near the locker room. “I did not began our game the way we used to, we tried to be too fancy, we are a team that need to work hard during three periods but tonight we worked hard in third and we showed what we can do.”

Dominated 26-9 in shots on goal Philippe Boucher’s team was overwhelmed in the second period by Victoriaville scoring three times. “We were dominated, we did not played our hockey style, we shoot ourselves in the foot, yes Victoriaville is a great team but we did not really show us in first two periods so we didn’t helped Baribeau, he gave goal that he wouldn’t give it if he got our help.” Continued Gagne.

Coming to Quebec training camp as an invite, Olivier Chalifour successfully earned a spot on the Remparts lineup as third goaltender. Seeing his number one netminder Baribeau allowing four goals on 26 shots Quebec head coach decided to make a change sending Chalifour in to begin the third and for the Longueil Quebec native it was his first QMJHL start, earning his first victory on his first start.

“After the second periods Philippe let me know I was to get in the game, as the emotion get in to me I was stress but thanks to Dereck Baribeau he calm me down even if he wasn’t happy to be pulled out of the game. It help me a lot and guys look like to be behind me so it help a lot.” Quebec backup netminder Olivier Chalifour said after playing the third periods.

Trailing by three after forty minutes of play Boucher challenged some players between the second and third and players answered it very well winning their third overtimes win in last four games.

“Surprised, yes and no, we tried to prepare our team, I talked about it with Ben (Benoit Desrosiers, one of Boucher’s assistant coaches) I said put it in your head coach book, the first game after a road trip is always complicated. It is always like that and will always be,” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said after the game.

“It is like that in professional because you go for long periods of time and when you come back you are happy to see your family or whoever it might be. In junior it always is different but it was always like that.” Boucher said.

For Victoriaville head coach Louis Robitaille it was a different story.

“Maturity, learning, I think we dominated the first two periods, the score should have been 5 or 7-0 but ultimately they made big play, the goalie on the other side made key saves in the third it the score was 4-1, but certain players thought they might be over, they began to play individual instead of continuing to play collectively that gave us chance to be successful in third period you know what happened. We earned what happened because on the other side they worked in third periods.” Victoriaville head coach Louis Robitaille said.

“Sometimes hockey isn’t fair, I don’t think we should lose that game even if we have had an average period, we have had good chances in third but we came out of here and we did not won.”

Victoriaville-defenseman-Andrew-Smith-look-for-the-puck-in-corner-photo-courtesy-of-Jonathan-LHeureux-of-infosportquebec

Neither team was able to open the scoring in first period with a total of 14 shots on goal eight by Quebec six by Victoriaville. Been 2-in-26 in first seven games with a man up, Quebec got two chances on their power play but without getting real good scoring opportunity.

Victoriaville also got two opportunities with man up but Quebec goaltender Dereck Baribeau undefeated in his six starts shut the door too on the visitor.

Opening the second period with 30 seconds of power play Quebec was unable to take advantage of their third opportunities.

Victoriaville broke the ice first with only 1:32 gone in middle frame. Making first save on Tigres center Pascal Laberge Quebec goaltender Dereck Baribeau can’t do anything on the rebound that hit Maxime Contois who driven to the net.

The combination of Laberge and Contois works again on Victoriaville second goal. This time, the shot from Laberge, has been redirect in front of Quebec netminder as Contois get Tigres second goals, it was center second of the night at 8:09.

Quebec get on scoreboard more than five minutes later as the wrist shot from the blue line by Ontario defenseman Sam Dunn beat visitor netminder Tristan Cote-Cazenave over his left shoulder at 13:49.

Victoriaville center Maxime Contois completed his hat trick in middle frame as his shot from the slot surprised Quebec netminder between his pads at 17:03.

Visitor adds a fourth goal in the second period with 50 seconds remaining. Pascal Laberge’s shot beat the Minnesota Wild prospect at 19:10.

Allowing four goals on 26 shots after forty minutes of play Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher decided to pull his starting goalie Baribeau to send 19 years old Olivier Chalifour to begin the third.

Trailing by three, Quebec began their comeback cutting Victoriaville lead to two goals with first of the night by defenseman Benjamin Gagne. Seeing his first shot attempted blocked by Tigres player the puck came right back on his stick and on his second attempts, his backhanded shot beat Victoriaville netminder between his pads at 9:33.

Mikael Robidoux scored Quebec third goal as the perfect pass from teammate Jesse Sutton has been deflected before going in the net behind Tigres goalie at 14:10. Quebec came back 4:39 seconds later completing the come from behind scoring their four goals as Victoriavill has been beaten for third times in the game between his pads. This time assistant captain Olivier Garneau scored his fourth of the regular season at 18:49 forcing both teams to go in overtime.

The overtime period was only 26 seconds old before Quebec picked another overtime victory their third in last four games. Author of Quebec second goals in the game defenseman Benjamin Gagne sealed Victoriaville’s fate with his second of the night giving Quebec a 5-4 overtime win.

Quebec will return in action tomorrow (Friday) hosting Rimouski Oceanic in first of a home and home series against their arch-Rival.

Only one other game was on QMJHL schedule on Thursday night

Saint John 1 vs. Acadie-Bathurst. 2

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