Quebec returns home leading series 2-0

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Coming into Rimouski to face the team with the best record over the regular season and having to play first two games in Rimouski wasn’t an easy task for Philippe Boucher’s team. After winning first game on Tuesday night, Quebec came out playing another solid game winning Game Two 4-1 to lead the QMJHL President Cup final two games to zero. Adam Erne and Anthony Duclair each with one goal and two assists were the best offensively for the visitors.

Completing the line Captain Kurt Etchegary also played solid game ending his night with a goal and assist.

Quebec began Game Two of President Cup final on strong note scoring three goals first two in thirty seconds on their first two shots. Found alone in slot Adam Erne redirect a pass from teammate Anthony Duclair beating Rimouski goaltender Philippe Desrosiers on glove side at 2:07.

Quebec came back thirty seconds later scoring a second goal as they were trying to kill penalty to teammate Yanick Turcotte. Losing the puck defenseman Jan Kostalek saw Erne taking the puck going on two-on-one with Captain Kurt Etchegary who scored his seventh of the playoff as his shot beat Desrosiers over his right shoulder.

Showing a power play percentage of 27.4 scoring 17 goals on 62 chances Rimouski got three power play chances including a five-on-three without being able to score first goal leading 13-6 in shots on goal.

Quebec added a third goal in the initial period. Pressuring Oceanic defenseman Simon Bourque the home team assistant captain lose the puck at his own blue line, pinching in Quebec defenseman Matt Murphy slap shot beat Oceanic goaltender Desrosiers top corner on left side with 6:33 remaining.

Allowing three goals on seven shots Rimouski head coach Serge Beausoleil replaced his starting netminder Desrosiers, sending Louis Philippe Guindon.

A bed penalty at the end of first period taken by veteran defenseman Charles-David Beaudoin gave Quebec their first power play chance. Ending first period with a man up the visitor began the second period with 39 seconds power play advantage time left to Oceanic defenseman penalty. Rimouski got 14 shots in first period allowing 8 against the duo of Philippe Desrosiers and Louis-Philippe Guindon.

Erne already registered three points after twenty minutes.

Rimouski broke the ice scoring their first goal cutting Quebec leads to two goals. Playing four-on-four hockey following consecutive minor penalties to Quebec Yanick Turcotte and Rimouski Alexis L’oiseau Christopher Clapperton beat Quebec goalie Zachary Fucale with low wrist shot for Clapperton tenth goals of the playoff at 4:58.

Duclair almost gave back the three-goal priority as his shot between Guindon’s pads stop in Oceanic goalie’s crease.

Quebec goalie made key save on Oceanic center L’oiseau with 7:05 remaining in middle Frame. Thinking he had gave back Quebec three goals leads earlier in period Duclair scored Quebec fourth goal using left-to-right-to-left fake move before putting puck in empty giving back to visitors their three goal leads with 4:22 left to middle frame.

If Jan Kostalek penalty at the end of first period wasn’t a good one to take for Rimouski, Dmytro Timashov taken one with less than five minutes remaining in second for slashing Kostalek. Rimouski has been cut with too many men on the ice at 19:36 Anthony DeLuca served the penalty giving Quebec a power play of 1:38 to begin the third period.

Neither teams scores goals in third and for the first time in three months (last time on February 22nd) Rimouski loses two consecutive games at home.

Game three of the President Cup final will be this Sunday in Quebec City. Game four will also be play in Quebec on next Wednesday.

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