QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Already losing their first two games in the Memorial Cup tournament, Rimouski had to fight for their life in the game against Quebec in last game of round robin phase one of the tournament. Two goals in the first period, adding two others in middle frame leads Serge Beausoleil team to 4-0 win over Quebec on Wednesday night. Michael Joly played a key role with one goal three assists. Same two teams will face each other on Thursday night in a tie-breaker game giving the right to face Kelowna in Semi-Final. 
Involved in a do-or-die game in the Memorial Cup tournament Rimouski scored twice in opening period. First one came just as Quebec Forward Dmytro Timashov came back on the ice, the other one came with 54.6 seconds on the clock.
Playing his first game in the Memorial Cup tournament Justin Sanson broke the ice in the opening period as he beat Quebec goaltender Zachary Fucale at 14:36.
The President Cup champion had three power plays opportunities in the period The QMJHL champion has been the beneficiary of one four-on-three for 57 seconds followed by a five-on-three for 55 seconds without been able to take advantage of it. Oceanic first goal came just as the penalty to Quebec left winger Timashov ended.
The Oceanic second goal came from the stick of left winger Michael Joly as his wrist shot beat Quebec netminder high on Fucale right side with less than minute remaining in first period.
The second period began as Quebec right winger Jerome Verrier thought he had beaten Rimouski goaltender Philippe Desrosiers following a two-on-one breakaway with teammates Yanick Turcotte, but referee Olivier Gouin said no goal as the puck was under Rimouski netminder.
Already trailing by two, a Quebec penalty to defenseman Matt Murphy proved to be costly for Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher’s team. Taking a rebound from Frederik Gauthier shot Christopher Clapperton beat Fucale top shelve with 14:24 remaining in middle frame.
“We managed the puck very well tonight, everyone did good job, and it feels good to let the bad out it work tonight so we will have to do the same tomorrow.” Oceanic left winger Christopher Clapperton said.
Questioned if someone gave a speech before the game, the Oceanic left winger answered, “What happened in the locker room staid in the locker room but lots of guys wouldn’t want to end the tournament like that (like we played in first two games). As to be here our goal is to win the Memorial Cup we are ready and we are all in same boat.”
Already found guilty once for too many men on the ice in first period Rimouski was found guilty for second time in second period but fortunately for Oceanic head coach Serge Beausoleil Quebec took penalty with 41 seconds remaining to Francois Beauchemin who had been designated to serve the too many men penalty to Rimouski ending Quebec power play.
Making a key save on a two-on-one breakaway for Quebec involving Timashov and Anthony Duclair Rimouski netminder Philippe Desrosiers saw his teammates scoring for fourth times in the game second goal in middle frame with 7:20 remaining. Alexis Loiseau wrist shot beat Quebec netminder on his left side. It was a second goal in six power play opportunities.
Allowing a fourth goals on Rimouski 25 shots Quebec head coach decided to make a change sending Callum Booth to replace Zachary Fucale. For Booth it was his first action in the tournament.
Vladimir Tkachev got the last great scoring opportunity for Quebec as he went on breakaway against Desrosiers; Tkachev’s shot hit the crossbar.
No excuses were offered from Quebec players in trying to explain their outing in a game of that importance. “We have no excuse to go out flat like we did tonight.” Said Quebec defenseman Raphael Maheux.
“The beauty of the situation is we start all over tomorrow in a do or die game. We have no reasons for our outing tonight, it was our worst game since last six months.”
For Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher, he recognized that it was hard to explain. “It’s hard to explain it wasn’t our best game. We didn’t began the way we should, we didn’t found the energy we needed and some penalties are debatable on certain. For sure it wasn’t the kind of game we wanted to play.”
“We have to forget that game as soon as possible you said it “we did not got out, it was like a game seven for the Oceanic, it will be like a game seven for us too tomorrow, we will play better hockey tomorrow.”
It was well known that some key players on Quebec side played with injuries, player like Adam Erne, Kurt Etchegary both played with injuries, several others also played with injuries but no one want to use it as an excuse for poor outing for Quebec.
“We can’t hide it we have players that give us what they can so in third period we thought to give them some rest for tomorrow. That been said, they will be there tomorrow and will give us everything they can.” Boucher said.
Talking about penalties Quebec head coach thought his team referee one in particular gave Quebec some penalties that shouldn’t be given and Boucher open it up on a particular situation involving some comment that had been made by a linesman toward him during the season and might have some bad influence in regard of his team.
“I can’t explain why, sometimes you have very bad days, I have been clear with Richard Trottier, before the tournament began about a referee that shouldn’t be here. He call the first two penalties in the game today, the last four in Oshawa game and in game seven in the QMJHL President Cup final, it got personal things with him and we have asked if it was possible that he wasn’t be here and he was there.” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said.
“I know it is the MHL that decide who will be in function but the NHL should be aware of certain things that happened during the year. Since a linesman has been suspended for comment he made toward me this year it has been real hard for us. So Richard Trottier should have been done his job and told to people who decide who work where. I can’t be clearer,” Boucher said about the particular situation.
For winning head coach Serge Beausoleil, his team didn’t play perfect game,” No we didn’t play perfect game, we made mistakes but when we did Philippe Desrosiers was there to make the save. You have lots of positive points in that game but we won’t crow we still are in critical situation but tonight we can be satisfied in regard of the way we play the game.”
Same two teams will face each other in tie breaker game on Thursday to earn the right to play on Friday night in semi-final against the Western Hockey League champion Kelowna Rockets.
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