Rimouski ends 2017 on winning note against arch-rival

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —What better way for hockey fans to end a year with an arch-rival confrontation between Quebec Remparts and the Rimouski Oceanic. Nostalgic fans would remember the confrontations between Quebec and Montreal in the NHL, but with the departure of Quebec for Denver Colorado in 1995, it is now in the QMJHL between Rinouski and Quebec. Fortunately for Rimouski and unfortunately for Quebec fans who made the trip to Rimouski, the Oceanic got the best this times winning 6-1 over Quebec.

Alexis Lafreniere with three points (earning second stars) and Charles-Edward D’Astous who earns the first star with four assists led Rimouski offense.

Dominating 12-3 in first half of the first period Rimouski got the first two goals on the main scoreboard before Quebec cut their lead in half.

Being the first selection overall in 2016 Oceanic left winger scored his 18 and 19th goals of the season giving a two goal leads to Rimouski. Making the save on first Oceanic shot from Louis-Philippe Dennis. Alexis Lafreniere beat Quebec goaltender Dominik Tmej with a backhanded shot living no chance to Remparts netminder at 9:23.

Already going 0-in-1 with a man advantage, Serge Beausoleil team took advantage of five-on-three penalties for 1:38 to add to their lead. Going at 16.3 percent with 23 goals scored in 141 attempts, Alexis Lafreniere took a rebound shot from recent acquisition coming from Val-d’Or Mathieu Nadeau scoring Oceanic second goal at 10:31.

With the last trading period in the QMJHL going from December 18 to January 6 teams in the league are allowed to make trades.

Even if not too many teams made move yet, some announced theirs. In Rimouski Oceanic General Manager and head coach Serge Beausoleil sent to Val-d’Or Karl Boudrias and a third round selection in 2018 (formerly belonging to Victoriaville) in return the Oceanic 20-year old Mathieu Nadeau and Tyler Higgins.

Playing much better in second portion of first periods, Quebec got on board at 15:26 as Andrew Coxhead took advantage of a rebound from the back board to beat Oceanic netminder Colten Ellis for Quebec first goal.

Leading by one after first twenty minutes, Rimouski took control of the game adding three more goals to lead 5-1 after forty minutes of play. Seeing Quebec cutting Oceanic lead in second half of first period, Yannik Bertrand gave back the two goals lead scoring his seventh of the year at even strength at 12:50.

Already going 1-in-3 on power play, playing four-on-three Rimouski scored their fourth goals of the game as Dimitry Zavgorodniy beat Tmej over his right shoulder at 14:28.

Allowing four goals on 18 shots Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher decided to pull his starting netminder, replacing him by Dereck Baribeau. Scoring goals at even strength, on power play, Rimouski adds another one, as they tried to kill a penalty. Carson MacKinnon welcomed the Minnesota Wild free agent signee, at the beginning of the year with Oceanic fifth goals, beating Baribeau between his pads at 15:15 of the middle frame.

Going 0-in-14 on power play since Quebec came back from the Christmas beak Remparts were 0-in-19 after first two periods in Rimouski as they got a five-on-three for forty seconds followed by a five-on-four for 1:10.

In third period, Rimouski add one more goal their sixth of the game as Alex-Olivier Voyer beats Quebec netminder between his pads at 6:43. Rimouski ended his game with three of their goals scored with the help of power plays in six attempts. Going 0-in-14 after Christmas beak, Quebec ended with 0-in-8 for 0-in-last 22 power plays opportunity.

For Quebec, it was the first times they loses four consecutive games, they loses four games in their last six outings.

Quebec will return in action for a three games in three nights beginning on Friday January 5 hosting Shawinigan Cataractes.

Eight other games were on QMJHL schedule on Sunday

Charlottetown 1 vs. Acadie Bathurst 7

Val-d’Or 3 vs. Blanville-Boisbriand 5

Halifax 4 vs. Cape Breton 1

Saint John 1 vs. Moncton 5

Victoriaville 5 vs. Chicoutimi 2

Baie-Comeau 4 vs. Drummondville 9

Rouyn-Noranda 4 vs. Gatineau 0

Shawinigan 0 vs. Sherbrooke 1

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