Quebec wins in shootout against Victoriaville

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Goals by Adam Erne and Logan Shaw in the shootout led Quebec to a 3-2 win over the Victoriaville Tigres.
 
Expecting to have to work hard to win in Sunday’s game, that’s exactly what Patrick Roy’s team did to register another win.
 
“Very happy about the team performance,” were Quebec first words following his team victory. “We only gave 10 scoring chances in the game that is what we wanted, we would like to play better defensively. Our defensemen were excellent we didn’t give them the week easy but I have to admit they answered well today. That’s what we want to see.”
 
Playing without any intensity last Thursday in a 7-1 loss, Victoriaville came into Quebec wanting to come back to their usual game meaning working hard with lots of intensity.
 
“We gave us a chance to win, that’s what we want in every game,” Victoriaville head coach Yanick Jean said after the game.
 
“We stayed in that game all along, we worked for sixty minutes, and I have nothing to say about our team performance. We have to come back on the right track,” mentioned Jean referring to their last game in Chicoutimi last Thursday.
 
“We need to come back to our kind of game playing with determination, be more aggressive with intensity we were more solid than in Chicoutimi for sure.
 
Victoriaville began the game being aggressive on the puck forcing Quebec defensemen to precipitate their first pass trying to force turnovers but thanks Quebec was the first team to break the ice at 15:52 of the opening period.
 
The duo Anthony Duclair and Mikhail Grigorenko united their effort giving Quebec 1-0 lead. Duclair found Grigorenko who wrist a shot beating Tigres goaltender Brandon Whitney low on his glove side.
 
The opponent ended the first period on a strong note forcing Quebec to precipitate their pass but thanks to Francois Brassard Quebec was able to go back to their locker room keeping their 1-0 lead. The Remparts also got the best in shots on goal department 13-7.
 
Victoriaville began the second period continuing to put pressure in Quebec zone. A penalty to Quebec forward Adam Erne opened the door to the visitor. Being shutout on their first power play opportunity in first period, the Tigres scored their first goal with only 33 seconds remaining to Quebec penalty.
 
Philippe Halley completed great effort from Angelo Miceli and Philip Danault with 9:01 in second period. The Tigres came back 2:42 later tying the game 2-2. Getting an assist on his team first goal, Miceli beat Quebec goalie Brassard low on his blocker side.
 
Seeing their opponent beginning the second period with two goals in span of 2:42 to take the lead for first time in the game, Quebec tied the game 2-2, 2:39 later with Nick Sorensen sixth of the year.
 
Not at his best in his last outing against Rimouski, Quebec netminder did better on Sunday making saves he had to especially with lots of Tigres near his crease.
 
“It’s good to come back and play good against a good team,” said Brassard. “To win against great team and making the difference in the shootout and win is fun. Victoriaville is team that comes out strong against us and we played good game this afternoon.”
 
Neither team was able to score in third and in overtime leading both teams to the shootout before seeing Quebec registering their 18^th wins.
 
Adam Erne was the first shooter beating Whitney first. Brassard made a pad save against Tigres defenseman Troy Vance. Already having a goal in regulation time, Mikhail Grigorenko was the second designate shooters but saw Victoriaville netminder make the save. Logan Shaw for Quebec put their opponent in must score situation with home team second goal.
 
But Brassard got the last word stopping Michael Rheaume to register the victory for Quebec.
 
Quebec next game will be this Wednesday hosting the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. On Friday Sherbrooke will be the visitor.  
 
Six other games were on QMJHL schedule on Sunday
Saint John 4 vs. Acadie-Bathurst 2
Rouyn-Noranda 6 vs. Cape Breton 2
Val-d’Or 3 vs. Halifax 4
Rimouski 5 vs. Baie-Comeau 4 (overtime)
Sherbrooke 1 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 5
Chicoutimi 2 vs. Drummonville 4
 
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