QUEBEC CITY P.Q.— With the score 3-2, Victoriaville after two periods, Quebec was shutout in four consecutive power plays in the third period, unable to get the tying goal. Kevin Poulin, Tigres goaltender, had another solid performance helping his team to sweep their opponent in four games.
With their backs against the wall, on verge of being eliminated, the Remparts had no choice but to play a strong first period. That’s what they did when former teammate Olivier Hinse beat Poulin on his right side 2:27 into the opening period.
Philippe Maillet beat Quebec goaltender Louis Domingue tying the score midway through the first period. Consecutive penalties to Quebec Captain Marc-Olivier Vallerand (19:38) and Danick Paquette (19:59) gave a five-on-three power play to Victoriaville to begin the second period.
The Tigres didn’t waste time taking a 2-1 lead when defenseman Joel Champagne’s shot from the blue line beat Domingue 53 seconds into second period. Victoriaville defenseman Keven Dupont for whom it was his first game in this series following a knee injury, took a rebound and pushed it behind the Quebec netminder for Tigres’ third goal in the game.
Quebec head coach Patrick Roy made a goaltending change pulling Domingue after giving three goals on 17 shots, sending in veteran Antoine Tardif. The goaltending change combined with the injury to Victoriaville defenseman Samuel Groulx seemed to give a boost to Quebec. The Remparts played much better in the second portion of the period.
Andrej Nestrasil took a loose puck behind his goal to Quebec forward Hinse who found Dominic Savoie Quebec’s second goal 59 seconds later. After forty minutes of play Victoriaville still led 3-2.
Travis McIsaac completed the scoring in an empty net for Victoriaville fourth goal in the game.
Goaltenders : Quebec Louis Domingue 17 shots 14 saves Antoine Tardif 13 shots 13 saves .
Power play: Quebec: 0-8 Victoriaville 2-5
Three stars selection: first Victoriaville Keven Poulin, second Victoriaville: Keven Dupont third Victoriaville Joel Champagne.
Victoriaville will await the winner of the Rouyn-Noranda Moncton Wildcats series that will continue Friday night instead of Thursday due to the arena unavailability.
Other series in the QMJHL
Drummondville vs. Rimouski:
With the score 2-2 after forty minutes all hope still alive for Rimouski to tie the series two games-a-piece, but five goals scored by the Voltigeurs in third period led Drummondville to a 7-2 victory. Sean Couturier (2-2), Marc-Atoine Desnoyers (0-2), Alexandre Contois (0-2) leads Voltigeurs offensive on Wednesday night. Beside Couturier’s two goals, Marc-Olivier Vachon, Benoit Levesque, Charles Landry, Gabriel Dumont and Christopher DiDominico were other scorers for Drummondville.
Jakub Culek and Alex Belzile replied for Rimouski.
Goaltenders Drummondville: Jake Allen 22 shots 20 saves Rimouski Matthew Dopud 36 shots 29 saves.
Power plays Drummondville 1-6 Rimouski 0-8
Three stars selections: first Drum Sean Couturier, second Rim Patrick Delisle-Houde, and third Drum Marc-Antoine Desnoyers.
Saint John vs. Gatineau; The Sea Dogs completed the sweep with a 4-2 win against the Gatineau Olympiques in Robert Guertin arena. Four different scorers got Saint John goals on Wednesday night, Michael Kirkpatrick, Jonathan Huberdeau, Yann Sauve and Tomas Jurco completed Sea Dogs offence.
Philippe Halley got Gatineau first goal on a penalty shot and Ty McGinn complete Olympiques offence for the night.
Saint John next opponent will be the Victoriaville.
Goaltenders; Saint John Marco Cousineau 22 shots 18 saves Gatineau Maxime Clermont 35 shots 31 saves.
Power plays Saint John 1-5 Gatineau 0-5
Three stars selections first SNB Jonathan Huberdeau, second Gat Philippe Halley, third Gat Hubert Labrie.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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