Quebec wins final regular season game ahead of playoffs

Quebec goaltender Dereck Baribeau offered a spectacular performance as he closed the door to Sherbrooke making 47 saves on 48 shots he face photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —With Sherbrooke being in must win situation to get in the playoff combine with a win in regulation time by Rimouski against Drummondville, Quebec win 2-1 behind a spectacular performance of their goaltender Dereck Baribeau who made 47 saves of the 48 shots he faced. Dominated 48-14 in shots on goal, Quebec made sure they eliminated Sherbrooke with a win.

Dominated 16-7 in opening period Quebec was the first team to break the ice on their third shots in first period. A great pass along the board from defenseman Raphael Maheux led to Derek Gentile beating Sherbrooke goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick over his right shoulder with 5:51 remaining.

Quebec added a second goal on their fourth shot. Coming from behind the net following first shot by teammate defenseman Benjamin Gagne Philipp Kurashev surprised Sherbrooke netminder on his right side at 16:43.

Still dominated in shots on goal in the second period Quebec got their first shot on Sherbrooke goal with 8:40 to play in middle frame. Quebec netminder has been perfect blocking 34 Phoenix shots. First penalty in the game went to Quebec defenseman Christian Huntley a four minutes for high sticking. Getting successfully killed the penalty still leading 2-0.

Derek Baribeau still perfect making 34 saves, 18 in second period. Quebec got only eight shots after two periods only one shot in middle frame.

Baribeau continued his excellent work in the beginning of third period as his team killed a penalty taken by Mathieu Ayotte for cross checking 40 seconds into the third periods.

Being in a must win situation in their game against Quebec, Sherbrooke needed to count on other team help meaning a loss in regulation time from Rimouski against Drummondville. With the score been tied 1-1 in third period between the Oceanic and Voltigeurs all hope was still alive for the Phoenix.

Quebec defenseman Andrew Pico (42) keeping an eyes on Sherbrooke forward photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec

Still perfect on first 45 Sherbrooke shots the Phoenix finally put a puck behind Quebec netminder with their 46th shots. As young 16 years old Anderson McDonald scores his 29th of the regular season at 13:54 in the third period.

Trailing by one Sherbrooke head coach Stephane Julien decided to pull his stating netminder in hope of getting the tying goal but instead Quebec thought they had scored a third goal in an empty net but referee Simon Tartre waved-off Quebec goal reason of an offside at the blueline.

Knowing his team was out of the playoff with his team loss it was deceiving for Sherbrooke head coach but he was the first to recognize that if his team had played last three games like they did play the last one, his team would probably be in the playoff.

“I think if we had played our last three games like we played today, we surely be in the playoff,” answered Sherbrooke head coach Stephane Julien near his team locker room.

“Guys really gave all they had tonight, it is surely sad we weren’t in the playoff but tonight they really empty the tank. Unfortunately we weren’t able to get the win.”

Making 47 saves on 48 Sherbrooke shots on goal the first stars of the game was really happy about his performance in the last regular season game before going in the playoff facing Acadie-Bathurst.

“Little bit,” answered the hero of the game Dereck Baribeau after the game. “Really happy bid team wins, it is great before the playoff. Sure I got lots of shots but my defensemen did great job making sure they did not gave too many scoring chances. They mostly shots from the perimeter. It give us confidence before the playoff.” Continued Baribeau as he answered question about successive great performance by goaltenders.

Sherbrooke left winger Julien Pelletier (27) looking for the puck photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec

For head coach Philippe Boucher he preferred to look the scoring chances more than the number of shots his team gave.

“It was 16-1 in first with only one real scoring chance,” answered Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher. “I will look the scoring chance but we can’t hide, when I look the board and see 10-1 in shots on goal I can’t be satisfied we are a team but like I said in first period they only had one real scoring chance. We are a team that refused to shot lots of shots on goal but Gentile score goal near the goal line the other was from a shot by Gagne that miss the net. We still have 31 wins we all earned it, we didn’t stole to anyone, we have had very good year. We have had really good fans they understand we were in rebuilding mode. Our young guys did their best other night it is harder, thanks to our young guys to give all they got some night it isn’t easier.”

Before the game Quebec honored the three 20 year’s old players for whom it was the end of their junior career. Defenseman Raphael Maheux, right winger Mathieu Ayotte and left winger Yanick Turcotte.