Quebec win Game 3, push Moncton to brink

Quebec goaltender Zachary Fucaly earns first stars making 24 saves out of 25 Moncton shots photo by Serge Poulin

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Already leading two games to none after winning first two games on the road Quebec played very strong game signing a 5-1 win to register a third win and pushing their opponent to the wall. With 24 saves out of 25 shots he faced, Zachary Fucale earns first stars of the game.

Quebec opened the scoring in Game 3 with only 1:05 gone in the opening period. Defenseman Ryan Graves backhanded shots beat Moncton goaltender Alex Dubeau over left shoulder on great pass from Anthony Duclair.

Already losing the services of Marc-Olivier Roy in first game Quebec lost Jerome Verrier after second shift.

Consecutive penalties to Quebec forward Massimo Carozza and Adam Erne gave the visitor the chance to begin second period with two men advantage. Quebec successfully killed the five-on-three Moncton power play for 1:38 and also the five-on-four for 20 seconds.

Quebec defenseman Ryan Graves scores Quebec first goal photo by Serge Poulin

Quebec got several good opportunities in the middle frame before scoring their second of the night. Playing on third line Yanick Turcotte and Olivier Garneau got great scoring chances as they went on two-on-one breakaway but Moncton netminder made the save.

Quebec got another two-on-one breakaway with 3:17 to go in the second period and they scores their second goal of the game. Duclair and Erne went on two-on-one breakaway ending with Erne scoring his13th of the playoff. Defenseman Aaron Dutra made key play by intercepting a pass from Moncton player before passing to teammate Duclair who went on breakaway with Erne.

Quebec came back beginning the third period scoring a third goal with only 22 seconds gone. Carozza on perfect pass from Dmytro Timashov gave no chance to Wildcats goalie Dubeau with a one-timer.

Quebec captain scored Quebec’s fourth goal on great individual effort. Coming out from Dubeau goal Kurt Etchegary beat Moncton goalie between his pads with 9:19 to play.

Being perfect in first forty minutes and part of third Quebec goalie Fucale lost the shutout only 35 seconds after Quebec scored their fourth goal. Kyle Tibbo redirect a shot by defenseman Jacob Sweeney beating Quebec netminder between his pads.

Quebec replied scoring last goal in the game an empty net one by Zachary Moody at 18:36.

Quebec center Adam Erne won face-off in offisive zone scores Quebec second goal photo by Serge Poulin

For Moncton defenseman Jacob Sweeney, the bad start from his team isn’t the right way to begin a game. “For sure it was a bad start we left a player alone in the slot on Quebec first goal.”

“I can’t say we can find a positive point but we know teams already did came back after trailing 0-3 in series. Halifax did it two or three year ago. It happen sometimes to find team that came back. Son we will take it one game at the time, one shift at the time and wish for the best.”

For Moncton head coach Darren Rumble, he reviewed the game by saying, “Thought we had couple guys who didn’t has had their best game. I thought they need on very nice play they capitalized on their chances, thought we fought great to the end. I didn’t like our unwillingness to get the puck deep in their zone. Their defensive unit did fantastic job hold the blue line and their back pressure. They were excellent and we were unwilling to put the puck in deep and they constantly do the transition very well.”

On Quebec side, Quebec goalie Fucale said, “The team get better every day, the game tonight is over now we have to focus on tomorrow’s game. For us it was really important to have a great start we want to put all cards on table and we did it well to begin the game.”

“It is true,” continued Quebec goalie when a reporter said “it’s been a long time a player did not told me that the fourth one is the toughest to win as a team led 3-0 in series. Would you like to tell me?

Former Quebec center Taylor Burke traded for Vladimir Tkachev photo by Serge Poulin

“We can talk a long time about it but when a team has the chance to eliminate another it is intimidating but in same time it is big challenge as a team usually you see leaders step-up and ok it is time to end it. But at the end when a team is on verge of been eliminated they usually came out very strong and we expect to see Moncton coming strong tomorrow.”

“It is important to see players stepping-up in game and we have seen some tonight Turcotte (Yanick), Garneau (Olivier) Moody (Zachary) they played really well our main players also did very well. Our defensive unit played very well and our goalie also has been very solid.” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said after the game.

“This is what we like to see for tomorrow. As far as the rest we will take it once at the time.”

The third wins in that series was the eighth consecutive ones for Quebec, Quebec about that Quebec head coach answered, “ I wouldn’t say you were creasy but I didn’t believed you.’ Boucher said. “We always believed in us, the first round ended in seven, I certainly wouldn’t to take away any credit to Cape Breton but beside game one every other games could go on our side, we were tested and we answered well,” Boucher said.

Game four of that series is tonight in Quebec.

No other series are on QMJHL schedule on Monday

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