Rimouski spoil Patrick Roy return in Quebec

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Everything was in place for the return of Patrick Roy behind Quebec bench on Saturday afternoon. Fans coming to Videotron Center couldn’t ask for a better opponent as they faced arch-rival Rinouski Oceanic. As the teams traded goals in first forty minutes Rimouski came on top with four goals, three of them in span of 2:28 returning home with a 6-2 win.

“We have had lots of difficulties in first two periods to get in the game,” Oceanic head coach Serge Beausoleil said after his team win. “Quebec played really well defensively but in third periods we showed our true colors.”

“Colton (Ellis) (Rimouski goaltender) kept us in the game in first two periods but I really liked the way we played in third periods. We didn’t had our head down in first two periods, we continued to work and find a way in third periods.” Continued Rimouski head coach Beausoleil.

“He react pretty well,” said Oceanic head coach Beausoleil as he answered a question in regard of former Quebec Remparts winger Olivier Garneau. Sure he had an emotional charge facing his former team playing against his former team as he played four seasons with Quebec. It is a big change for him but he is fine here.

Nominated by his head coach Patrick Roy as new captain Quebec veteran defenseman Benjamin Gagne thought his team didn’t play a bad game, but he thought the penalty to teammate defenseman Sam Dunn hurt the team.

“First of all the penalty to Dunn (Sam) hurt us, I didn’t really saw what happened but it hurt us. They only has had two or three chances in that frame time and took advantage of it,” Gagne said.

“We were into the game until that moment, we gave them a great opposition I don’t think they expected us to give them hard times, we dictated the tempo of the game but they took advantage of their chances, they were very opportunistic. That was what gave the game result.”

For Roy, the game wasn’t that bad for his team, he liked the way his team began the game but on the other end, he didn’t like the way his team came back in the defensive zone.

“First of I like the way we came out, We have had a good first period, a very good second one, we even took the lead 2-1 in second period, they scored at the end, they got a power play they scored at the end of the power play. Special units played key role in that game in their favor. Their power play is very dangerous, they moved the puck very well, we weren’t good enough with our sticks around. Overall I’m happy about the team performances. I liked lots of things, what I didn’t like was the way we came back in our defensive zone. On their fourth goals and last one we should have come back, that is the habit we must brake it right now.” Quebec head coach Patrick Roy said.

Rimouski opened the scoring on their power play opportunity 5:24 into first period. Patient with the puck, center Alexis Lafreniere, found teammate Charles-Edward D’astous beating Quebec goaltender Dereck Baribeau, over his right shoulder. Former Quebec Remparts forward Olivier Garneau got an assist, the other went to Lafreniere. Quebec left winger Spencer Blackwell was in the penalty box.

Quebec opened the second period tying the game 1-1 also on power play, their second in the game. A great exchange between Remparts defenseman Bejamin Gagne Philipp Kurashev led to defenseman Sam Dunn for his first of the year. Quebec defenseman wrist shot beat Oceanic goaltender Colten Ellis at 1:11.

Dominating the middle frame, Quebec took the lead on Xavier Cormier goal who took a rebound shot from defenseman Christian Huntley with 11:46 to play in second period.

Already been 1-in-2 with a man up Rimouski took advantage of their third power play opportunities tying the score 2-2 with 3:29 remaining in middle frame. Jimmy Huntington score Oceanic second goal, his first of the year redirecting a shot from teammate Lafreniere at 16:31. Garneau got his second assists in the game against his former team.

Rimouski regained the lead with only 3:07 gone in third period as Jordan Lepage backhanded shot beat Quebec goalie under his right arm. The visitor took control of the game scoring next three goals in in span of 2:28.

Already registering an assist on Oceanic first goal scored by teammate D’Astous, Lafreniere scored Rimouski fourth goals, his first of the season at 16:18. Traded to the Oceanic in last summer former Quebec Rempart left winger adds two more goals first one on power plays, ending the game with three power play goals in four attempts, for his first of the year at 17:19.

As his team played in shorthanded situation Garneau came back with his second goals at 18:46 ending his night with two goals and two assists to haunt his former team.

Quebec return in action on Sunday afternoon hosting the Sherbrooke Phoenix.

Six other games were on QMJHL schedule on Saturday

Chicoutimi 4 vs. Baie-Comeau 6

Blainville-Boisbriand 5 vs. Shawinigan 1

Cape Breton 9 vs. Acadie-Bathurst 3

Halifax 3 vs. Charlottetown 2

Drummondville 6 vs. Val-d’Or 2

Gatineau 2 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 0

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