Quebec return home winning against Chicoutimi

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Coming back home after last week on the road Quebec played solid game winning 5-2 against arch-rival Chicoutimi Sagueneens. Gregor MacLeod played solid game earning first stars of the game scoring what was identified as game breaking goal by Chicoutimi head coach Yanick Jean.

Chicoutimi opened the scoring 2:16 minutes in first period. Sagueneens left winger Samuel Meisenheimer surprised Quebec goaltender Antoine Samuel. For Meisenheimer it was his 10th of the year.

Quebec tied the game less than eight minutes later with Philipp Kurashev 19th goals of regular season. Kurashev wrist shot beat Chicoutimi goaltender Zachary Boutillier over his left shoulder 9:23 in opening period.

Killing four penalties in second periods, Quebec took the lead in last shorthanded situation as Quebec killed penalty to Remparts captain Matthew Boucher. Going on breakaway from the middle ice Quebec left winger Louis-Filip Cote beat Chicoutimi netminder Boutillier over his right shoulder with 1:37 remaining in second period.

Beating Quebec defenseman Benjamin Gagne for the puck Chicoutimi center Kevin Klima scored Saguenens second goals bringing back both team to square one as Klima beat Quebec netminder over left shoulder with 17:12 remaining in the third period.

Quebec regained the lead as Gregor MacLeod beat Boutillier with a backhanded shot over Sagueneens netminder left shoulder with 12:15 remaining.

Already scoring at leat one power play goals in their last seven consecutive game, Quebec was 0-in-2 on their first two attempts with a man up but scored in an eighth consecutive games as Matthew Groutchy beat Boutillier on left side for his 17th goals of the year at 11:38. Quebec center completed the scoring with Quebec fifth goal in the game in an empty net at 18:57.

Chicoutimi head coach Yanick Jean wasn’t too happy about Quebec third goal, a goal that he considered the goal that made the difference in the game. “ It was a cross checking along the board in the back of our player not called, I understand it was an ultra-tough game to referee, you got penalties for diving, I understand it was a tough game. Our power play wasn’t good, I thought it was better not to get power play in the game.” Chicoutimi head coach Yanick Jean said after the game.

“For sure Quebec third goal was the game breaker, it was part of the game, we turn the page and start all over,” continued Sagueneens head coach Jean. “We can’t staid hooked up, sometimes it turn on your side, on the other it turn against you, we start all over next Friday.” Ended Visiting head coach Yanick Jean.

“Yeah I guess we knew the game will turn in our favor we just keep playing hard, Antoine (Samuel) is big part of this win, we played the game for him our goalie worked really hard.” Quebec left winger Gregor MacLeod said.

Talking about his goal he said,” I thought it was outside, very much. I thought they said they tripped over the blue line,” said MacLeod about the two players fell on the ice giving chance to Quebec left winger for his backhanded shot. I was just lucky, It happened.” Continued MacLeod.

Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher wasn’t agreed with one call in second periods as two of his players was penalized for embellishment. “I have hard time with one,” said Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher about his players’ penalties in middle frame. “In two weeks it will make big differences, Kurashev for diving, we should have a five-on-three then the Kurashev called for diving we took a two minutes, 15 seconds later we fall in shorthanded situation, it could change a game totally, it was that one I had hard time with,” explained Remparts head coach Boucher.

“For the res I will pass to another call, beside Pico (Andrew) who was ejected of the game just because he talked, I played with Steve Ott and Mathew Barnaby for Quebec people who knew Mathew Barnaby he was more recognized for talking a lot, it was part of the game, but for Pico seem to have tough time with certain referee for saying in the game.”

Quebec will end 2017-18 regular season with a home and home games against Rimouski with next Quebec game in Rimouski on Friday night.

five other games were on QMJHL schedule on Wednesday night

Saint John 3 vs. Halifax 7

Cape Breton 3 vs. Moncton 9

Rimouski vs. Blainville-Boisbriand (postponed)

Val-d’Or 2 vs. Drummondville 8

Gatineau 2 vs. Victoriaville 5

Rouyn-Noranda 5 vs. Baie-Comeau 1

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