QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Playing home and home game against each other with second game in Videotron Center on Friday night Quebec won the first battle, 3-2, against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. Back from two-game suspension to get an aggressor penalty as third man in an altercation veteran left winger and assistant captain Yanick Turcotte underlined his return with two assists in the game.
Quebec opened the scoring for the seven time in eight games. Celebrating his 17th birthday young European Philipp Kurashev scored his first in the QMJHL as his wrist shot beat Baie-Comeau goaltender Antoine Samuel with 5:23 remaining in the first period.
After fans in Henry Leonard Center saw only one goal scored in the opening period, teams played more offensively in second period with a total of four goals scored.
Baie-Comeau tied the game with only 1:07 gone in middle frame. A turnover in Quebec zone led to home team first goal. Drakkar center Matt Jones made pass to Ivan Chekhovich beating Quebec goaltender Callum Booth on his right side with backhand shot.
A penalty to Drakkar forward Matteo Pietroniro opened the door to Quebec playing for the first time with a man up. Unable to keep a rebound from Quebec defenseman Raphael Maheux from the blue line, Remparts captain Matthew Boucher took the rebound beating Baie-Comeau netminder at 8:08.
Like they did earlier in the middle frame Baie-Comeau came back trying the game 2-2. Beating Quebec defenseman Aaron Dutra Baie-Comeau right winger Jordan Martel put the puck behind Remparts netminder at 9:37.
Quebec regained the lead for third time; losing the puck Matt Jones saw Yanick Turcotte getting his second assists in the game passing to his teammates Olivier Garneau who scored his third of regular season at 13:02.
Trailing by one after forty minutes of play Baie-Comeau got three chances playing with a man up but unfortunately for the 1,411 fans their favorites were unable to get puck behind visitor netminder who registered his third victories of the year. The Carolina Hurricane fourth-round selection (93th overall) in 2015 made 22 saves on Baie-Comeau 24 shots.
In additional news, Quebec Remparts General Manager Philippe Boucher confirmed a trade this morning as he traded goaltender Samuel Cardinal to Chicoutimi Sagueneens. In return Quebec get a fourth round selection in 2017 (previously belonging to Drummondville) and a fifth round selection in 2019.
Selected 214th overall in 2015, Cardinal played one game with Quebec as he came in relief of Evgeny Kiselev as the team played Drummondville Voltigeurs on last September 25-2016. He allowed 3 goals on 11 shots. Presently the goaltender played for the Lionel-Groulx Nordiques College
Quebec will be back home on Friday night facing Baie-Comeau Drakkar.
Two other games were on QMJHL schedule on Wednesday night
Halifax 0 vs. Acadie Bathurst 3
Saint John 2 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 3 (overtime)
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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