QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Opening the last weekend of the 2015-16 regular season in front of their fans (4,374), Rimouski won 4-2 over archrival Quebec Remparts. Carson MacKinnon with a goal and assist was the best offensive player on the Oceanic side.
Scoring twice in the opening period, adding one more goal in each of the other two periods, the Oceanic, never looked back winning their last game of the regular season at home, before having to go to Quebec to face the Remparts, for a second time in less than 24 hours.
After missing their first chance in the game playing on five-on-four, to open the scoring, Rimouski took advantage of bad change by Quebec to break the ice. Going on breakaway three-on-zero, Dylan Montcalm redirect a pass from Antoine Dufort-Plante, giving Rimouski 1-0 lead at 16:25.
The Oceanic came back 44 seconds later, as Carson MacKinnon, beating Quebec netminder Evgeny Kiselev on second rebound, with backhand shot on Quebec goalie right side with 2:51 remaining.
Each team had chances on the power play but on both occasions, the opponent successfully killed the power plays.
Rimouski adds third goal to their lead as Oceanic right winger Alex-Olivier Voyer, deflected a shot by teammate defenseman Jeremy Beaudin with only 1:40 gone in middle frame.
Wanting to change the tempo of the game, after been hit by Oceanic defenseman Andrew Picco, Quebec left winger Matthew Boucher, dropped his glove but the Rimouski defenseman got the advantage.
Rimouski right winger Deven St-Hilaire though he had scored his team fourth goals but Quebec netminder Kiselev, made key save with his glove, preventing the Oceanic of adding a fourth goals.
Quebec break the ice with their first goal, with less than four minutes remaining in the middle frame. Patient with the puck along the board, Auguste Impose, made perfect pass to Louis-Filip Cote scoring his second with the Quebec Remparts, also his 7th of the year at 17:30.
Trailing by two, and 0-for-1 with a man advantage, Quebec took advantage of their second opportunities with a man up, cutting their opponent lead to one goal. Right defenseman Aaron Dutra shot from the point, went through players in front of Rimouski goaltender Louis-Philip Guindon for Quebec second goal, 3:32 into third period.
Leading by one, Rimouski center and assistant captain, Taylor Boland scored the insurance goal with 4:16 remaining in the third period, beating Quebec goaltender on his right side.
Quebec will end their regular season hosting the Rimouski Oceanic on Saturday afternoon.
Eight other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday night
Saint John 2 vs. Cape Breton 6
Acadie-Bathurst 2 vs. Charlottetown 3
Halifax 7 vs. Moncton 4
Baie-Comeau 4 vs. Chicoutimi 3 (shootout)
Rouyn-Noranda 7 vs. Drummondville 3
Val-d’Or 1 vs. Gatineau 4
Blainville-Boisbriand 1 vs. Victoriaville 2 (overtime)
Sherbrooke 2 vs. Shawinigan 5
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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