Quebec sweeps Rimouski with win on Sunday

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Playing a second game against the Rimouski Oceanic over the weekend Quebec concluded their weekend with a victory this time 4-1 against Rimouski. After being solid between the pipes in Friday’s wins in Rimouski Callum Booth was almost perfect making 28 saves on Oceanic 29 shots. Matthew Boucher was the best offensively with one goal one assist.

Rimouski played much better in the first period than Friday night in Rimouski when the same two teams faced each other. Trailing 3-0 after one period on last Friday, the Oceanic opened the scoring as Nicolas Werbik wrist shot beating Quebec goaltender Callum Booth high on glove side with 5:03 left to play in the opening period.

Quebec took advantage of their first power play opportunity to break the ice and tied the game against Rimouski. After Rimouski goaltender Louis-Philip Guindon made first save on Derek Gentile shot, Zachary Moody took the rebound and beat Oceanic netminder with 24.2 seconds remaining in first period.

Quebec takes the lead for first time in the game taking advantage on their second power plays opportunity. Massimo Carozza beat Oceanic netminder between his pads with a backhanded shot, completing great play by teammates Bronson Beaton. Beaton got a point in tenth consecutive games.

Carozza goal came with only 1:28 gone in second period. Rimouski defenseman Andrew Pico was in the penalty box for the visitor.

Quebec lose forward Augute Impose in first period following a contact with his own teammate Matt Murphy. No further detail in regard of the possible injury to Quebec center after the game.

Quebec came back in the third period adding two more goals. Already scoring their two goals in the game with the help of power play unit, the home team scored their third one playing with a man up. Getting caught for second time in the game with too many men on the ice as Alex-Olivier Voyer served the penalty, the shot from Quebec defenseman Paphael Maheux from the blue line hit the back of Rimouski goalie Guindon before going in at 16:13.

Last goal was an empty net one by Matthew Boucher sealing their arch-rival sweep over the weekend.

For one Quebec goalie Callum Booth has been the best player on both teams during the weekend allowing only one goal on 29 shots.

“Sure I have had lots of help from my teammates,” answered the first stars of the game when he was asked if it was his best weekend of the season.

“All the players sacrificed themselves all over the weekend, it really help me not just for my confidence but for the team confidence. I felt really well but like I said I have had lots of help from my teammates.”

“Usually it has lots of tension between our two teams, we had to find a way to make them paid for last year so everyone played really well and gets two victories against them.” Continued Quebec number one goalie Booth.

Quebec head coach also has been very satisfied of his team plays over the weekend.

“We had emotions on the bench,” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said in his press conference after the game. “I don’t know up there from the stand what it was look like, maybe in Rimouski it had been bit more emotional but here today it was a good game. Little by little we bring our work ethic we might showed it more on the road but today we showed to our fans bit more today.”

“Very happy,” answered Boucher when he was questioned by reporter about his power play efficiencies in the game. We knew the arrival of Nikolas Brouillard will help us. Scoring goals even weird one referring to the one scored by defenseman Maheux. A shot on goal is never a bad play you never know. But what I’m very very happy is before the meeting with Lappy (Martin Laperriere) on Friday night, it was very rare I talk about the P.K. but I said it was little bit shied as we were last in the league on our penalty killing. With all the effort the details Lappy did we found it unacceptable. Lappy wouldn’t told but it worth been told. Since then we did not gave anything.”

On the other side Rimouski head coach refused to blame his team inefficiencies on power play. “We have had lots of power plays,” Rimouski head coach Serge Beausoleil said after the game. “I did not count them but maybe what six seven. We have had several chances, in second periods we have has nine scoring chances against five and Quebec came out with goal on power play. They shoot the puck on goal. On their third goal they scored on a bad changing but that is the things happened sometimes.”

Quebec next game will be this Wednesday visiting Drummondville.

Seven other games were on QMJHL schedule on Sunday

Acadie-Bathurst 3 vs. Charlottetown 4 (overtime)

Saint John 3 vs. Moncton 4 (overtime)

Gatineau 3 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 1

Baie-Comeau 0 vs. Chicoutimi 6

Sherbrooke 7 vs. Drummondville 3

Val-d’Or 4 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 3 (0vertime)

Shawinigan 4 vs. Victoriaville 3

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