QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Being on the road for last eight days playing five games, losing four of them, Quebec came in Shawinigan on Friday night hopping to stop their losing streak. Dominating 43-17 in shots on goal, Quebec also dominated on scoreboard winning 7-2 against Shawinigan. Philipp Kurashev with two goals adding an assist and Andrew Coxhead with two goals were the best offensively for Patrick Roy’s team.
In an offensive first period in Shawinigan Quebec took 3-1 lead. Quebec opened the scoring as the game was only 43 seconds old. Olivier Mathieu took a loose puck neat Shawinigan goal to beat former Quebec goaltender Lukas Fitzpatrick on his left side with a backhanded shot.
After losing Mikael Robidoux in last game in Val-d’Or to a concussion following a hit to the head, Quebec lost defenseman Nicolas Savoie by Shawinigan right winger Marc-Antoine Nelancon couple minute after Quebec first goal.
Quebec defenseman Sam Dunn surprised Cataractes netminder with a long wrist shot from the blue line beating Fitzpatrick on his right side with 6:39 gone in the opening period.
Shawinigan broke through cutting the Quebec lead in half scoring their first goal, as Jeremy Martin put the rebound from Jan Drozg behind Quebec goaltender Anthony Morrone at 16:33.
Quebec regained their two-goal lead with 1:45 remaining to the opening period. Pierrick Dube redirect a shot from teammate Gabriel Montreuil behind Fitzpatrick for Quebec third goal. Quebec dominate shots on goal 13-6 after first twenty minutes of play.
While Quebec and Shawinigan got their first power play chances of the game in second periods without being able to score, both teams traded goals at even strength but Quebec still led this time by three after forty minutes dominating 30-15 in shots on goal.
Putting lots of pressure in Cataractes zone, the line of Andrew Coxhead, Matthew Grouchy and Olivier Mathieu brought their contribution for a second goal in the game. After Olivier Mathieu opened the scoring with only 43 seconds gone in the opening period, Andrew Coxhead scored his sixth of the regular season with 11:40 left to play in middle frame.
Shawinigan center Jeremy Manseau scored Cataractes second goal as he put the puck behind Quebec netminder following a shot from the blue line by defenseman Leon Dennis with 8:35 remaining.
Quebec regained their three-goal lead when center Philipp Kurashev scored his seventh of the year with 4:04 left to play in the second period.
Quebec adds two more goals in third periods sealing Shawinigan fate on Friday night. Philipp Kurashev on costly turnover behind Shawinigan net scored his eighth of the year on perfect pass from teammate Aleksei Sergeev with 15:29 to play. Coxhead also scored his second of the night living no chance to Cataractes netminder beating Fitzpatrick with a wrist shot with 4:03 remaining.
Quebec will return home for next game as the will host the Shawinigan Cataractes on next Friday November 16 to begin a five-game home stretch.
Seven other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday night.
Cape Breton 2 vs. Halifax 5
Acadie-Bathurst 2 vs. Moncton 5
Chicoutimi 2 vs. Charlottetown 5
Saint John 2 vs. Sherbrooke 6
Baie-Comeau 4 vs. Val-d’Or 3
Blainville-Boisbriand 1 vs. Drummondville 8
Gatineau 4 vs. Rimouski 3
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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