QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Led offensively by Alex Emond (2g-1a), the Rimouski Oceanics played almost perfectly scoring two goals in the first period before adding two in second for a 4-0 lead after forty minutes. Morgan Clark (25 saves on 26 shots) lost his shutout with less than six minutes remaining in the game.
Contrary to Thursday night’s first meeting between these two teams where Quebec scored first, Rimouski scored the first two goals on Sunday, the first one with a man advantage, and the second on shorthanded situation.
A penalty to Quebec for too many men on the ice served by Patrick Walsh gave the first opportunity to Rimouski to break the ice. Alex Emond redirected Jarrad Struthers’ shot beating Quebec goaltender Louis Domingue, for the 19-year-old’s 10th goal of the season at 11:44.
Already trying to kill a penalty to teammate Michael Beaudy, Felix Lefrancois took a rebound from Alex Belzile and put the puck behind the Quebec netminder with 27 seconds remaining in the opening period.
Quebec lost center Mirko Hoefflin who left the game following a check along the board by Liam O’Brien (possible concussion).
A sloppy pass from Quebec goaltender led to Rimouski’s third goal. Domingue tried to make a pass to defenseman Brandon Duke but Oceanics’ forward Emond picked up the puck and only had to put it in an empty net for Rimouski’s third goal at 3:35 of second period.
Another penalty to Quebec proved to be costly. Found guilty for goaltending interference Remparts captain Mikael Tam couldn’t do anything from the penalty box when Alex Belzile beat Domingue who made the first save on Ryan Kavanagh shot from the blue line. Belzile’s goal was scored at 6:07.
Quebec center Joel Champagne prevented the shutout by scoring in third period at 8:56 during a power play.
Quebec head coach Patrick Roy decided to pull his goaltender putting all eggs in same basket to get another goal but instead seeing his team scoring, Rimouski center Alexandre Mallet shot in an empty net for the Oceanics’ fifth goal at 14:40 of third period.
Quebec ended the weekend winning two games and losing one.
Quebec will return to action next week with a three games in three nights series beginning Friday December 3 in Victoriaville facing the Tigres. On Saturday, Quebec will host Shawinigan Cataractes and on Sunday afternoon, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles will visit the Remparts.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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