Quebec captain Kurt Etchegary key player for Philippe Boucher team photo by Serge Poulin
QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Losing the night before in front of their fans and forced to play game seven Quebec dominated the shots on goal 41-24 and on main scoreboard Quebec game seven 6-3. Adam Erne with two goals and one assist and Vladimir Tkachev with three assists led their teammates to victory over Cape Breton.
Trailing by two (0-2) with two thirds of first period gone Quebec began their come-back by cutting Screaming Eagles lead in half scoring their first goal with 7.4 seconds remaining on scoreboard.
Quebec came back in the second playing very strong hockey scoring three times, adding two others in third. Kyle Farrell scored the last Cape Breton goal in losing cause with five seconds left to the third period.
Cape Breton opened the scoring with 1:53 gone in the opening period. After making first save on Alexandre Gosselin, Quebec goaltender Zachary Fucale wasn’t able to make second save on Jacob Smith who scores his third of the playoff.
The visitor added a second goal with 2:18 remaining to the opening period. Clark Bishop surprised Quebec netminder under his left arm.
Cape Breton right winger Jacob Smith scores Screaming Eagles first goal in the game photo by Serge Poulin
Quebec broke the ice with 7.4 seconds on the clock. Taking the rebound shot from Adam Erne, Dmytro Timashov beat Cape Breton goaltender Alexandre Belanger on his left side. Quebec got the best in shots on goal department 20-10 but trailed by one 2-1 on main scoreboard.
Quebec tied the game on Jerome Verrier third of the playoff as his wrist shot went over Belanger left shoulder with 17:28 to play in middle frame.
Quebec took the lead for first time on Massimo Carozza first of the playoff on great pass from Vladimir Tkachev. Carozza beat Cape Breton netminder to his right side at 7:03.
Quebec added another to their lead with the help of the power play. Being 0-in-1 with man advantage the home team scores their first goal being man up. Pinching in Quebec defenseman Ryan Graves came in a slot getting perfect pass from teammate Marc-Olivier Roy near Cape Breton net. Graves’s shot left no chance to goaltender Belanger at 15:55. Vladimir Tkachev got his third assists of the game on Quebec.
Leading by two after forty minutes of play in game seven of first round series Quebec made sure Quebec opponent will be on respiratory adding two more goals in third period with last one been scored in an empty net.
Cape Breton goaltender Alexandre Belanger played strong first period for visitor photo by Serge Poulin
Erne scored his first of the night with only 1:18 into third period. Coming from behind the net Quebec center put the puck behind Cape Breton netminder taking a three goals lead. Erne came back later in the third scoring Quebec sixth goals his second of the game in an empty net with exactly three minutes remaining in the game.
Kyle Farrell scored Cape Breton last goal of the game with only five seconds remaining on the clock.
“We told ourselves whatever happened in the game we must keep our focus play our game from the beginning up until the end,” Quebec goaltender Zachary Fucale said. “We shows lots of character and we have respected our game plan and it paid off.”
Talking about the spirit before the game the veteran netminder admitted they were nervous but key words coming from their captain help a lot.
“Sure a game seven you already have extra, the intensity you got more energy before, during and after the game. We felt that not just for us but for Cape Breton too. It was really a good game.” Quebec veteran goaltender Fucale said.
Quebec veteran goaltender Zachary Fucale has been designate as starter in game seven photo by Serge Poulin
For Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher he seem really happy about the team effort. “I have absolutely no doubt we never gave up,” answered the Quebec head coach Boucher about the fact his team trailed 0-2 on first period before Quebec came back with 7.4 seconds remaining in first period cutting Cape Breton leads in half.
“We prepared ourselves to play short period of time going step-by-step and not panicking whatever happens.” “We played the game first, second and third periods sure the goal at the end of first period helped. We gave them first period but we came back with new attitude in second and third period.” Ended Quebec coach Boucher.
For Cape Breton head coach Marc-Andre Dumont, even if his team took a two-goal lead they scores five other goals.
“Yes we have had two goal leads but they scores five other goals a game is sixty minutes,” Cape Breton head coach Dumont. “We could turn the game upside down we did not do a good job with the puck. Inexperience took over in those moments.
Quebec next opponent will be Charlottetown Islanders but first game wasn’t determine yet.
Only one other series were on QMJHL schedule on Tuesday night.
Halifax 3 vs. Shawinigan 2 (first overtime)
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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