Quebec wins over Shawinigan on opening night at home

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Winner of their first two games over the first weekend in Chicoutimi and Baie-Comeau, Quebec won for third time in 2017-18 when they won their opening night in Quebec against the Shawinigan Cataractes by the score of 3-1. After trading goals in first period, Dereck Gentile got the lead back for Quebec scoring his second goal of the regular season with only 1:32 gone in the middle frame.

Shawinigan-Cataractes-goaltender-Mikhail-Danisov-look-for-grabing-the-puck-with-his-glove-to-stop-the-action-Photo-courtesy-of-Jonathan-LHeureux-of-infoaportquebec

Usually having slow start in the Videotron Center in the past year Philippe Boucher’s team played a strong first period dominating 11-2 in shots on goal even if the score was 1-1 after the first period.

Dereck Gentile, the first star of the game, admitted the team did not used to begin regular season at home on stronger note. “It was different in past couple years,” said the right winger Gentile.

“You can see we’ve turn the page and played better in first period. It was quite different when you got solid defensive corps back there, it really start in your own end, the best offense is a good defense, if we always have the puck then, we can have more chances. It has been great so far, we works all five guys getting great chance offensively, so we are happy with it.” Continued the one who got the first star of the game.

Playing another solid game forward Olivier Garneau agreed with his teammates Gentile about the team good starts.

“We wouldn’t taking example on last couple years,” Olivier Garneau said after the game. We have had some difficulties to play here in the Videotron Center in last couple years, and the first period really help us tonight to set the tempo almost all the game. I can’t say we played all sixty minutes we had some times where we could have been or play harder in our zone but overall it went really well and we are happy to get our first win here.”

Been 3-in-9 on their power play since the season began Quebec got first chance in the game playing a man up following a penalty to Shawinigan center Samuel Asselin. Matthew Boucher got best scoring opportunity but Cataractes goaltender Mikhael Danisov made the save.

Shawinigan-Cataractes-defenseman-44-Simon-Benoit-try-to-cover-Quebec-captain-Matthew-Boucher-along-the-board-Photo-courtesy-of-Jonathan-LHeureux-of-infosportquebec

Quebec broke Friday night as center Andrew Coxhead saw his shot been partially deflected by Cataractes defenseman before beating Shawinigan netminder Danisov on his left side 12:31 into initial period.

Shawinigan replied less than three minutes later as Vincent Senez drove in the slot beating Quebec goaltender Dereck Baribeau with a precise wrist shot at 15:04. Quebec dominated shots on goal 11-2.

Quebec began the second period on stronger note regaining the lead with only 1:32 into the middle frame. Keeping the puck inside Shawinigan zone, Philipp Kurashev saw his teammates Dereck Gentile scoring his second goal of the regular season, taking his own rebound pushing it the puck behind Cataractes netminder.

For Shawinigan head coach Daniel Renaud it was his first game as QMJHL head coach after been in Quebec last two years as Philippe Boucher assistant. Losing for third times in as many games, he wasn’t too happy about his team performance saying his team was too cute, instead of been good.

“Been cute or been good is completely different,” answered former Quebec assistant coach and now be the Shawinigan head coach Daniel Renaud. “We try to be cute, not be good. As long as we will try to be too fancy you can’t go in the slot and not shooting on the net, if they blocked the shot good for them. The difference between be cute and be good, we want to be cute.” Cataractes head coach Renaud.

“Last night it was our puck movement, we did better today, we could have been better back there, we still have to progress. I already told it and I will repeated it we can’t go in the slot and made a pass. Last game was Fitzpatrick and the penalty killing, tonight it was Denisov, the P.K. We will have to have other players to step up. We challenge some last night, Vincent Senez and Samuel Gilbeault step their game up but our offensive players will have to be better. Ended Cataractes head coach Renaud.

Quebec-Remparts-left-winger-Olivier-Garneau-scores-Quebec-insurance-goal-the-third-one-in-an-empty-net-with-54.6-seconds-left-in-the-third-Photo-courtesy-of-Jonathan-LHeureux-of-infosportquebec

Been able to keep their one goal lead most of the third period, Olivier Garneau scored Quebec third goal in an empty net with 54.6 seconds remaining in the game.

“I wasn’t too happy in second period cause I found we complicated things,” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said in his post-game press conference. We didn’t think you are good defensive unit but we think you are a very good defensive corps,” said Quebec coach Boucher to hi defense unit between the second and third period.

“We want for them to do things right, I told them in Baie-Comeau the number of wins we will have this year will depends on the way we will play defensively, we did it right, we gave only one goal, three, four or five scoring chances, we weren’t used to it last year, that is why we will be demanding, we have six very, very good defensemen they did all right again tonight.”

Quebec will return in action on Saturday completing their weekend hosting Gatineau Olympiques.

Six other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday night

Acadie-Bathurst 3 vs. Cape Breton 4 (overtime)

Saint John 4 vs. Moncton 6

Val-d’Or 1 vs. Victoriaville 4

Rouyn-Noranda 4 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 2

Chicoutimi 3 vs. Drummondville 6

Gatineau 3 vs. Rimouski 2 (overtime)

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