QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Already leading the semi-final series 1-0 following a win on Thursday night, Quebec played a very solid game pulling out a 4-3 win against Moncton to return home leading the series two games to zero. Giving up the first goal for a second consecutive game Quebec came back twice to sign their second victory. 
Quebec left winger Guillaume Gauthier got the distinction of scoring the goal that made the difference.
As in first game on Thursday night, Moncton opened the scoring taking advantage of their first power play opportunity. Been 0-in-5 in first game of the series, Ivan Barbashev scored his 13th of the playoff his 7th on power play.
After Zachary Fucale made the save on first shot taken by Zach MacEwen the rebound went right back on Barbashev’s stick leaving no chance to Quebec goaltender beaten top left corner with only 1:57 gone in the first period.
Dmytro Timashov was in penalty box for Quebec guilty of tripping.
Quebec tied the score just as the penalty to Moncton forward Stephen Johnson ended. Quebec defenseman Ryan Graves redirect a shot from center Jerome Verrier between Wildcats goaltender Alexandre Dubeau’s pads with 8:28 left to first period.
Moncton regained the lead with 2:51 remaining to the period. Going along left board Barbashev found teammates Conor Garland who saw his wrist shot found his way behind Quebec netminder for his third goal of the playoff.
Adam Erne though he had scored Quebec second goal as he came out from behind Wildcats net to beat Dubeau near left post with 19:28 to go I middle frame, but referee John Hopkins wave-off the goal on the ice. Decision has been confirmed after long discussions with video judge.
Still trailing by one Quebec came back stronger with next two goals in 1:05. Skating along the board Quebec left winger Yanick Turcotte beat Wildcats defenseman Zachary Malatesta drove to the net to beat Moncton goaltender between his pads with 15:52 to go.
Thinking he had scored in the beginning of the second period Erne scored Quebec’s third goal giving his team the lead for first time in the game. After taking first shot blocked by Dubeau the Quebec power forward saw the puck coming back to his stick scoring his 12th of the playoff with 14:47 remaining.
After successfully killing a penalty for too many men on the ice, served by Dmytro Timashov, defenseman Nikolas Brouillard was found guilty of roughing as the siren sound announced the end of second period giving the home team the chance of beginning the third with a man advantage.
Unable to take advantage of the power play to begin the third period Moncton tied the score 3-3 bit later in the period as former Quebec Remparts center and veteran 20 years old Taylor Burke surprised Fucale scoring his third of the playoff with 17:45 to play in third period.
With the score tied 3-3 Moncton got another chance to play a man up following a penalty to Quebec right winger Vladimir Tkachev. Already been 0-in-4 Moncton was unable to get anything going on.
Recognized to be a good goal scorer, Quebec left winger Guillaume Gauthier completed great work from teammates Jerome Verrier and defenseman Aaron Dutra scoring his 7th goals of the playoff with 5:37 to go. Dubeau was beaten for a third time in the game between his pads.
Trailing by one with 50 seconds remaining Moncton head coach Darren Rumble thought Dominic Talbot-Tassi has beaten Quebec goalie to tie the game but Fucale made the save of the game with his left pad to preserve Quebec second wins in the series.
With the second victories in Moncton Quebec won their last four games on the roads. Two in Charlottetown as the team swept the Islanders in Quarter-finals
Game 3 of that semi-final series will be Monday night in Quebec City.
One other semi-final series in QMJHL was on schedule
Val-d’Or 0 vs. Rimouski 3 (Rimouski leads series 2-0)
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.