Rimouski bounce back winning game three in Quebec

goaltender Louis-Philip Guindon making key save in first period against Quebec defenseman Ryan Graves photo by Serge Poulin

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Trailing 0-2 in the QMJHL President Cup final Rimouski came into Quebec playing very strong defensive game winning 4-2 over Quebec. Ending the regular season as the best defensive unit in the league Rimouski had given up eleven goals to Quebec in first two games of that series. Oceanic left winger Samuel Laberge led visitor offensive with two goals.

Trailing 0-1 with only 2:37 gone in the initial period the team coached by Serge Beausoleil scored next three goals to take a two-goal lead for first time in the series.

After seeing Quebec cutting their leads to begin the third period Rimouski took advantage of another bad penalties taken by the home team player to regaining their two goal leads. After that Rimouski clog the middle ice and they never look back registering their first victory in that series.

“We can’t in any ways found us in deficit 0-3 against Quebec,” admitted Rimouski head coach Serge Beausoleil after his team signed their first victory in the series.

“I have seen this from our third lines and our defensemen,” answered Oceanic head coach Beausoleil after a reporter asked about the physical plays his team demonstrated in game three. “I’m happy to find back our team.”

Quebec left winger Adam Erne key player on Quebec first line photo by Serge Poulin

“The two goals we scored on undisciplined penalties taken by the other team has been very important for us, it gave us chance to capitalize. For the rest we might unconsciously change our way of playing in third the coverage wasn’t as good as it was in other two periods but overall it was a very good game for us.” Beausoleil said in his post-game press conference.

For Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher, he expected a better game from their opponent.

“We expected a better game from them and that is exactly what they gave us. We saw it coming as they played second portion of second game better, today they showed us their true colors. As far as us is concern we played like a tired team, I can’t explained why but nobody expects us winning in four games.”

“We got great start scoring first goal our power play could have been better. Guindon has been very solid we tested him after our first goal. Maybe little bit of undisciplined, we want to play a certain way but we didn’t today. Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said.

Quebec opened the scoring in game three first of the series in Quebec. Shooting on Rimouski goaltender left side Olivier Garneau saw his teammates Guillaume Gauthier taking the rebound living no chance to Oceanic netminder Louis-Philip Guindon at 8:37.

Quebec left winger Anthony Duclair member of first Quebec line been shut-down photo by SergePoulin

A retaliate penalty to Quebec left winger Anthony Duclair proved to be costly for Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher team. The wrist shot by Alexis L’oiseau beat Quebec goaltender Zachary Fucale to his left side with 3:16 remaining to first period.

Unable to take advantage of a power play to begin second period Rimouski takes the lead for first time in the game playing at even strength. Oceanic left winger Samuel Laberge long shot deflected before beating Quebec goalie on his right side at 2:32 in middle frame.

Winning his battle along the board against Anthony Duclair Rimouski defenseman Samuel Morin made pass to Michael Joly who wrist a shot that found tiny hole under Fucale left arm to slowly crossing the goal line for Rimouski third goal of the game taking the lead by two for first time in the series 10:14 seconds after the visitor scored their first one.

“The keys for us this afternoon was to shut down their first line, Gauthier (Guillaume) and Timashov (Dmytro) scored big goals in first two game so that was fine.” The Oceanic defenseman Samuel Morin.

Making key plays on his team third goal by winning his battle against Duclair, the Philadelphia Flyers prospect was happy of his play overall in game three. “We won a battle in defensive zone we went on offensive zone and we scored but it was lots of battles one-on-one,” Morin said.

Rimouski leff winger Alexis L’oiseau scores Oceanic first goal photo by Serge Poulin

Quebec cut Rimouski lead in half scoring their second goal in the game to begin the third period. Making key plays on that second Quebec goals Guillaume Gauthier found teammates Olivier Garneau beating Guindon with backhanded shot between Rimouski netminder’s pads with 11:47 to go in third.

With visitors already taking advantage of bad penalty taken by Quebec leading to Oceanic first goal the visitor took advantage of another bad penalty taken by Massimo Carozza a slashing on Rimouski goalie.

With Quebec center in the box Rimouski defenseman Jan Kostalek took a shot that force Quebec goalie to make first save. Unable to keep the rebound Samuel Laberge was right there roofing a shot over Fucale left shoulder for his second of the game regaining their two goals leads with 9:29 remaining.

Making 26 saves on Quebec 28 shots goaltender Louis-Philip Guindon came back with strong performance after Philippe Desrosiers began game two in Rimouski.

“Our defensemen played very strong game today, I think we told us the true things in the meeting, we have very great team spirit and that’s what I think we can talk to each other been able to tell us the real thing between us in our meeting yesterday,” Oceanic goaltender Louis Philip Guindon.

Game four of the QMJHL president Cup final will be Wednesday night in Quebec.

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