QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — In what was an anticipated great pre-season game between Quebec Remparts and Chicoutimi Sagueneens in Chicoutimi, the home fans got to know the new Quebec Russian player Mikhail Grigorenko. Besides helping his new team to come from behind three times in the game, the young Russian put the cherry on the sundae with the goal that made the difference in a shootout in Quebec 4-3 win against Chicoutimi on Thursday night. Grigorenko and Frederick Roy ended their night with respectively (0g-3a) and (1g-2a).
The game began on a positive note for Sagueneens fans when their favorites opened the scoring on their second power play opportunity of the night when Quebec left winger Jeremie Maloin had been sent to penalty box for charging at 4:30. Guillaume Asselin didn’t give any chance to Quebec goaltender Louis Domingue when the Sagueneens right winger didn’t miss the great pass by Lucas Sedlak at 6:03 of the opening period beating Quebec netminder for the first goal of the game.
Quebec tied the game 8:05 later when the line of Grigirenko, Roy and veteran Alexandre Contois combined their effort. After missing his first shot, the Russian center, saw teammate Frederick Roy returned the puck to Grigorenko with a great pass to Contois leaving no chance to Chicoutimi goaltender Christopher Gibson, who has been beaten, also with a man advantage.
But before the siren sound announced the end of first period, Chicoutimi regained a one goal lead with Sagueneens left winger Jeremy Gregoire scoring Chicoutimi second goal with 46 second remaining to the period.
Quebec tied the game 2-2, 5:14 into second period thanks to young 16 year old Adam Erne who completed great play from teammates Roy and Mikhail Gregorenko.
Chicoutimi regained the lead for third times in the game 6:36 later, a second time via a power play when Steve Lebel beat Quebec netminder.
Quebec came back with 3:59 remaining to the second period bringing both teams back to square one, when veteran left winger Roy beat Gibson, completing great effort from Martin Lefebvre and Grigorenko.
Neither team was able to score goal in third period leading directly to the shootout since the QMJHL didn’t play overtime period in pre-season schedule.
In shootout, after seeing Louis Domingue made first save against Guillaume Asselin, the Remparts head coach Patrick Roy sent his recent acquisition from Rouyn-Noranda Alexandre Contois who already had scored in regulation time. The one who wear number 24 beat Chicoutimi netminder for second time on Thursday night giving a 1-0 to his team in the shootout.
Sagueneens head coach sent the excellent youngster Charles Hudon to try to even the score, but again Domingue made the save.
And who do you think the Quebec head coach Roy send trying to end the game in his team’s favor? None other than the Russian center, Grigorenko. And what do you think happened? Like any movie ended in beauty, the Russian center beat Chicoutimi goaltender giving his team a 4-3 shootout win.
Both teams will be back on ice Friday for the rematch but this time in Levis Arena.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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