Quebec wins over Victoriaville

opening face off game between Victoriaville and Quebec photo by Serge Poulin

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Trailing by one in early in first period, Quebec came back playing much better scoring five consecutive goals to lead by four after forty minutes of play. Thinking it might be too easy they saw their rival coming back to one goal behind but at the end Quebec prevailed winning 8-4 with solid performance by Nikolas Brouillard and Matthew Boucher.

Victoriaville broke the ice off a wrist shot by Bradley Lalonde that surprised Quebec goaltender Callum Booth high on his left side at 8:30. Going along the board Jimmy Huntington made big play on visitor first goal giving Lalonde to go in slot.

Quebec tied the game on their first power play opportunity in the game. Quebec defenseman Nikolas Brouillard shot beat Tigres netminder on his right side with only three seconds gone to Victoriaville left winger Carl Marois. Brouillard goal came at 12:19.

Quebec dominated 14-8 in shots on goal in the initial period.

Victoriaville center Felix Lauzon ends his game with one assist photo by Serge Poulin

Suffering stomach pain Quebec goaltender Booth left the game allowing only one goal on eight Victoriaville shots. Backup netminder Julian Galloway came in the game.

Quebec took the lead for first time in the game on Massimo Carozza ninth goal. Driving to the net Quebec left winger Matthew Boucher accepted to be hit to make backhanded pass to Carozza who wrist a shot beating Victoriaville netminder on his right side 4:44 into middle frame.

Ryan McReynolds made Quebec lead two as his long shot from the point by Sean O’Brien been redirect McReynolds for his first goal of the regular season with 11:39 left in middle frame.

Quebec scored their fourth goal, third in second period, taking advantage of their second power play opportunity. Making first save on Quebec center Jesse Sutton Victoriaville netminder Tremblay wasn’t able to do anything as Quebec center Charley Graaskamp pushed the puck behind Tigres goalie at 12:04.

Allowing four goals on twenty-one shots Victoriaville head coach Bruce Richardson decide to make a change in front of net. James Povall came in.

Quebec defenseman Nokolas Brouillard welcomed new Tigres netminder scoring his second of the game Quebec fifth goals of the game, Quebec fourth one in middle frame as his wrist shot beat Povall on his left side with 6:08 remaining in second period.

Unable to get out of their zone Quebec saw Victoriaville left winger Carl Marois scoring visitor lone goal in middle frame at 16:53.

Victoriaville defenseman Tristan Pomerleau in his defensive zone photo by Serge Poulin

Leading by three Quebec seem to begin the third on their heels as Victoriaville scored a third goals cutting Quebec lead to two. Mathieu Ayotte slap shot beat Quebec goalie Galloway at 7:54.

Ranked first overall with a man advantage the visitors was unable to take advantage of their first opportunity but scores on their second chances with a man up.

Marc Beckstead help his team as the veteran right winger scores Tigres fourth goals bringing his team to trail only by one with 8:28 remaining to the third period.

Victoriaville fourth goal seem to wake Quebec up as Dmytro Timashov gave back his team their two goals lead completing great play following great pass from defenseman Ross McDougoall at 11:32.

Matthew Boucher at 17:28 and Brouillard scoring his third goals of the game completing his third career hat trick at 18:35 completed the scoring to seal Quebec victory.

“We played lots of game lately, but it will continue on next weekend we trained ourselves hard and all summer for these kind of sequence and everything goes well for us.” Quebec defenseman Nikolas Brouillard said.

“Yea we lose a 5-2 lead it was little bit harder we were undisciplined we talked about it before the game that we have to pay attention to this but at least we finish strong.” The one who ended the game with four point’s three goals.

Another one who played strong game for Quebec is Matthew Boucher ending also with three point’s one goal three assists.

“We began to find ourselves all the lines began to produce, our power play works tonight (four-in-four). We talked about it between periods,” Matthew Boucher said answering question about Victoriaville attempt to come from behind.

“It wasn’t the first times that happened we learn from previous occasions, so with one goal differences we came back regaining our tempo.”

Victoriaville goaltender Olivier Tremblay left the game after allowing four goals on twenty-one shots photo by Serge Poulin

“They began the game real well we have been sleeping a bit in the beginning of the game after their first goal. We played better in second, we slept a bit to begin the third and we took back the control of the game. We often said the junior game isn’t over the momentum could change rapidly we almost learned upon ourselves but we did well after that.” Resumed Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher.

For Victoriaville head coach Bruce Richardson his team wasn’t there at all they were totally dominated.

“We didn’t show tonight, we lose in all aspect of the game, we were humiliated in all aspect of the game,” answered Victoriaville head coach Bruce Richardson.

Quebec will go on the road for one game on Friday night in Shawinigan facing the Cataractes, before coming back in Quebec on Saturday facing Saint John and Cape Breton on next Sunday.

Only one other game was on QMJHL schedule on Tuesday night

Acadie-Bathurst 3 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 4

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