Quebec defenseman Christian Huntley (16) moving the puck out of defensive zone photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Beginning a busy weekend with two games on the road Quebec (Thursday), in Drummondville (Saturday) before coming back home on Sunday hosting Baie-Comeau, the Huskies opened their weekend picking up two more points in the standing with 4-1 win against the Quebec Remparts. Trailing 1-0 in first period the visitor came back scoring four unanswered goals two coming from the stick of Mathieu Boucher to seal Quebec fate.
Quebec opened the scoring for the 30th time this season taking advantage of their second power play opportunities. Mathieu Ayotte shot left no chance to Rouyn-Noranda goaltender Olivier Tremblay 5:51 into the first period. For Ayotte it was his 17 goals of the regular season, his 12th in Quebec.
Rouyn-Noranda tied the game with less than two minutes to play in first period. Huskies left winger Mathieu Boucher beat Quebec goalie Evgeny Kiselev at 18:14 scoring his 12th of the regular season.
Dominating the middle frame Rouyn-Noranda add to their lead with only 2:45 remaining to the second period. Losing the puck in the middle ice Quebec forward Mathieu Ayotte can’t do anything as Manuel Wiederer came from behind the net and roof the puck to top left corner giving the lead to Huskies for the first time in the game.
In third period visitor came back adding two more goals leading to their first wins on their very busy weekend as the team will play in Drummondville on Friday night and playing at home on Sunday against Baie-Comeau.
Quebec goaltender Evgeny Kiselev stopping play in his crease photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
Already scoring Huskies first goal, the one that tied the game 1-1 Mathieu Boucher scored his second of the game redirecting a shot from teammate Zachary Lauzon at 8:30 scoring the insurance goal. Last goal came as the visitor played in shorthanded situation. Jean-Christophe Beaudin scored his 25th of the year in an empty net at 19:34.
“I’m happy the way we compete, we want to come back playing strong game, like I said, last Saturday we played good game comparatively to last Friday so tonight we would like to continue on the same senses, we played great as in unity of five players. We have had several great scoring chances, their goaltender made several key saves that kept them in the game. But at the end, we capitalized, and Boucher (Mathieu) scored important goal.” Rouyn-Noranda head coach said near his team locker room.
Already playing without Matthew Boucher who was lost for the rest of the season due to injury, Andrew Pico and Igor Larionov jr Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher learned last night that another of his player will be lost for the season. At the received end of a slashing to his wrist left winger and captain Olivier Garneau will be out for 12 weeks due to broken wrist.
“If you want to make me so mad in a morning when I take my coffee just make me read Boucher, dad and son. I’m the General Manager and head coach Matthew is much more than just the son of a coach,” Quebec head coach said after the game referring to an article where in one of main French newspaper a reporter made a reference to both of them.
1- Rouyn-Noranda forward Antoine Waked (19) battling for the puck along the board with Quebec left winger Philipp Kurashev (96) photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
“Matthew Boucher missed a lot to our team, he is without a doubt our leader for last two years, add to that Olivier Garneau who wasn’t there, it is a big test for us. The meeting we have had this morning was really simple we have to face the adversity. We have to be honest we faced adversity all years, usually we answered very well, it is an opportunity for lots other players, we have to take advantage of it. We have to give bit more as the missing guys weren’t there.” Boucher continued referring to missing players.
About the game itself, Quebec head coach admitted his team played great hockey in opening period. “In first period we played better, we have to give all we got every night we didn’t have the choice,” answered the head coach Philippe Boucher
“We played physical, the Coxhead line played really well we took the lead but after that it became little bit complicated, we have to do things the right way, we miss little conviction or some confidence offensively, we did not have enough dangerous shots for the quantity of power play we have had. It is a great hockey machine with very good players on the other side.
Quebec last game over the weekend will be against Charlottetown on Saturday night in Videotron Center.
Two other games were on QMJHL schedule on Thursday night
Sherbrooke 5 vs. Cape Breton 2
Halifax 5 vs. Moncton 3
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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Rouyn-Noranda forward Antoine Waked (19) battling for the puck along the board with Quebec left winger Philipp Kurashev (96) photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
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