QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Coming to Rimouski to play the first two games of the President Cup final Quebec came out of the game with a 7-4 win registering their tenth consecutive win of the playoff. Anthony Duclair and Kurt Etchegary, with two goals and one assist each, played key roles in Quebec first victory of the QMJHL President Cup final.
Rimouski began the QMJHL President Cup final on stronger note scoring first two goals on their first two shots. Oceanic right winger Michael Joly scored the home team’s first two goals. 
Rimouski first goal came with only 1:01 gone in the opening period as Joly wrist shot beat Quebec goaltender Zachary Fucale low on stick side.
Quebec tied the game 1:15 later with center Massimo Carozza beat Oceanic goaltender Louis-Philippe Guidon between his pads wi5h a backhanded shot.
The Oceanic came back regaining the lead with second goal of first period by Joly. Rimouski right winger wrist shot find tiny space over Quebec goaltender right shoulder with 16:24 remaining.
Rimouski was the beneficiary of the first power play of the game and the final as Quebec right winger Jerome Verrier has been found guilty of high sticking at 4:36. Fortunately for Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher Quebec penalty killing unit successfully killed the penalty.
While Rimouski dominated the first portion of first period leading 2-1, Quebec took advantage in the second half of the period tying the score 2-2 with Duclair’s sixth goal of the playoff.
Left completely alone in the slot, the Arizona Coyotes prospect got perfect pass from center Etchegary scoring Quebec second goal with 8:41 left to the opening period.
Quebec continued their domination in second period in shots on goals 12-7 and also on the main scoreboard scoring two goals to lead by two, 4-2, after forty minutes of play.
Bringing both teams back to square one by scoring last goal in the initial period Quebec took the lead for the first time in the game on Adam Erne 16th goals in 16 games in playoff.
Going on a two-on-one breakaway with center Kurt Etchegary, Erne beat Oceanic netminder top corner on Guidon right side with only 24 seconds gone in the middle frame.
Seeing the Oceanic successfully kill their first power play opportunity, Quebec defenseman Matt Murphy scores visitor fourth goals in the game on pass from Vladimir Tkachev on their second power plays attempts at 4:03. Joly was in the box for Rimouski.
Seeing his starting netminder Guidon allowing four goals on sixteen shots Rimouski head coach Serge Beausoleil decided to make a change sending Philippe Desrosiers in.
Been severely hit by Samuel Laberge Quebec defenseman Aaron Dutra left the game for couple shifts. Fortunately for head coach Boucher his right hands defenseman came back later in second period.
Trailing by two Rimouski reduced Quebec lead to one goal 1:40 into the period. A turnover by Quebec center Massimo Carozza proved to be costly for Boucher’s team. The wrist shot by Anthony DeLuca beat Quebec goalie under left arm.
Coming in the game after Quebec scored their fourth goal Oceanic netminder Desrosiers made key save Duclair on Quebec two-on-one breakaway with Kurt Etchegary.
Quebec regained their two goals lead on a long shot from defenseman Raphael Maheux beating Rimouski goalie on his right side at 6:23.
After stopping Rimouski forward Christopher Clapperton on breakaway, Fucale wasn’t able to do anything as Joly taking his own rebound to score his third goals of the game with 5:36 left to play.
Stepping on the ice coming behind the net Anthony Duclair surprised Oceanic defenseman Samuel Moring behind his own net stealing the puck finding teammates center Etchegary alone in slot scoring Quebec’s sixth goals with 1:57 remaining.
Quebec finished the scoring with an empty net goal scored by Etchegary his second of the night with 3.3 seconds on the clock.
Game two of QMJHL President Cup final will be on Friday night in Rimouski
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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