QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Trailing by three in the middle of second period Rimouski scored four unanswered goal last one in overtime to sign a 5-4 win in game six in Quebec on Sunday. Oceanic defenseman Jan Kostalek’s second goal with only 1:03 gone in the first overtime made the difference to force both teams back to Rimouski to play game seven.
Rimouski goaltender Louis-Philip Guindon left game after allowing 3 goals on 11 shots photo by Serge Poulin
“Resiliency character in a Colisee full like tonight in a hot building like this for guys finding a way to make a come-back make me very proud of them,” Rimouski head coach Serge Beausoleil said after the game.
“It is always same thing we have to stay in the present. When you trailed by three it’s to work on next shot it took only one shot not ten to score a goal and we have to really believe that we can come from behind. By narrowing the gap we knew we would transfer the pressure on them. At one times the shots on goal was 23-14 for us so we told us as we will continue things will turn on our side, we will have to continue to put pressure and work hard.” answered Beausoleil
Quebec opened the scoring with two goals in 45 seconds late in the first period. Author of the overtime goal giving a 3-2 lead to Quebec in President Cup final against Rimouski, Massimo Carozza break the ice in game six in Quebec.
Working along the board teammates Jerome Verrier found left winger alone in slot making perfect pass for Carozza who scores his fifth of current playoff on low shot with 1:27 remaining.
Adam Erne made Quebec two goal leads scoring his twentieth of the playoff. A great pass from center Kurt Etchegary left no chance to Rimouski netminder Louis-Philip Guindon with 45.5 seconds left on the clock.
Prior to Quebec first two goals late in first period Rimouski had two great chances to break the ice, one on breakaway by Michael Joly and another by Alexis L’oiseau. The first period ended with Oceanic got 11 shots on Quebec goalie against 7 on Rimouski netminder but on main scoreboard Quebec leads 2-0.
Quebec center Marc-Olivier Roy back from knee injury in game against Halifax photo by Serge Poulin
Rimouski replied with only 1:23 gone in middle frame cutting home team lead in half. Been cut in deep in Oceanic zone the line of Kurt Etchegary, Anthony Duclair and Adam Erne weren’t able to come back in time to prevent Oceanic defenseman Jan Kostalek wrist shot beating Fucale top shelve on Quebec goalie right side.
Quebec came back with the next two goals in 22 seconds to regain their two-goal lead. Making first save on Etchegary shot Rimouski netminder wasn’t able to do anything on Quebec defenseman Matt Murphy taking the rebound to wrist it on Guindon right side at 6:54.
Erne scored his second of the game giving a three-goal lead to Quebec. Going on two-on-one breakaway with Anthony Duclair the Quebec left winger scores his twenty-first of the playoff at 7:16.
Wanting to change the tempo of the game Rimouski head coach Serge Beausoleil decided to pull out his starting netminder after Guindon allowed 3 goals on Quebec 11 shots sending Philippe Desrosiers who allowed Quebec fourth goals on first shot he face.
“My job as goaltender is to be ready whatever happen,” answered Rimouski goaltender Philippe Desrosiers after coming in relief of Louis-Philip Guindon who allowed 3 goals on 11 shots.
“Tonight as I went in the score was 1-3 I’m proud of myself and even more of the team. I never heard as much noise in my life but I put that behind me and concentrate myself on next shot,” Desrosiers continued after been beaten by Adam Erne on first shot he faced.
Quebec goaltender Zachary Fucaly made key save on Michael Joly on breakaway photo by Serge Poulin
Trailing by three after Quebec’s fourth goal, Alexis L’oiseau reduced the Quebec lead to two goals as his backhanded shot beat Quebec goalie with a backhanded shot at 14:14 of second period.
“Unbelievable I’m really proud of this team we believed in our chances to come back, now we are far away from been dead we will have very big gam coming up.” Oceanic center Alexis Loiseau said after scoring Rimouski second goal.
Back in locker room trailing only by two, the visitor open the third period scoring another one with Simon Laberge third of the playoff. Already on his knees Fucale wasn’t able to do anything as the Oceanic left winger redirect the shot by defenseman Guillaume McSween making the score 4-3 Quebec at 9:42.
Trailing by one with half period left Rimouski continued to apply pressure on home team until Rimouski center Loiseau scored his second of the game at 18:59 forcing both teams to go in overtime for second consecutive game.
As game five in Rimouski ended in Quebec favor only 10 seconds in first overtime Rimouski began the overtime been as nervous as the home team knowing that if they lose it was the end.
With each team’s victories in the President Cup final coming on rival home ice and with them scoring the tying goal leading to fourth period Rimouski seem to have confidence in their abilities to force a game seven.
Already having scored Rimouski first goal Oceanic defenseman Jan Kostalek scores his second of the game to give his team the victory in game six forcing both teams to travel back to Rimouski to play game seven on Monday night.
Oceanic left winger Alexis L’oiseau scores tying goal leading his team to overtime photo by Serge Poulin
“I think we got the momentum and we intend to use it in game seven, answer Jan Kostalek of his second goal in the game coming in overtime gave his team the win in game six.
“We knew we never gave up, said Kostalek answering question about how his teammates felt as the team trailed by three. “We played until last second of the game and that is what plays off.”
On Quebec side, you can read deception on layers face after team had the lead 4-1 and lost the game in overtime 5-4. “It unfortunate we were very near but tomorrow we will have the chance to win the Cup. We felt very bad but we will have the chance to play game seven and we will be ready for tomorrow.” Said Quebec center Marc-Olivier Roy who played his first game in president Cup final after suffering knee injury.
“I don’t have any explanation they worked harder than us maybe they did lot of fore-checking but we learn from that and tomorrow we will be ready.” Ended Roy.
For Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher, you can also read deception but he gave credit to the Oceanic. “I think it was a team that never gave up, “begins Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher trying to explain how Rimouski was able to come from behind.
“We have had our chances to score another one we could have need another one I think. I don’t think so we wouldn’t want to change anything we played one period at the time. They were very opportunistic they have had lot of chances but last two goals at the end they were very opportunistic at the end.”
Both teams will travel back to Rimouski for game seven on Monday night.
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