QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Losing their last confrontation in Shawinigan against Quebec, the Cataractes came here motivated with four points game and the battle for first place in the division. Led offensively by Justin Bernier, Shawinigan won the last game before Christmas break by the score of 6-1 against Quebec.
photo courtesy of Eric Lamirande of infosportquebec
Shawinigan opened the scoring on their first power play opportunity as Quebec defenseman Ross McDougall had been found guilty for high sticking at 10:33.
Beating Quebec defenseman Andrew Pico Shawinigan defenseman Justin Bernier wrist shot beat Quebec goaltender Evgeny Kiselev on left side at 11:56. It was Cataractes 13 shots on Quebec goal. Shawinigan dominate 17-4 in shots on goal department.
Shawinigan continued their domination in middle frame scoring three goals in span of 2:59. Brandon Gignac backhanded shot deflected on Quebec defenseman Etienne Verrette’s skate to beat Quebec netminder at 9:42.
Dennis Yan made it 3-0 as Cataractes left winger took his own rebound scoring his 22nd of the year at 11:09.
Bernier scored Shawinigan fourth goal his second of the game at 12:41.
photo courtesy of Eric Lamirande of infosportquebec
Quebec got on the board with less than five minutes to play in the second period. Blocking a shot from Cataractes defenseman Gabriel Sylvestre Matthew Boucher went on breakaway beating Shawinigan goaltender Mikhail Denisov with a backhanded shot at 17:26.
Shawinigan completed the scoring with two more goals in the third period. Bernier completed his hat trick with his third goals in the game at 7:38. Samuel Gilbault scored Cataractes sixth goal as he only had to put it in an empty net as Quebec netminder didn’t has had time to come back to the other side after making first save with only 5:50 remaining to play in the third period.
“For head coach Shawinigan Gilles Bouchard the victory had surely better taste since Quebec won last confrontation between the two team in Shawinigan.
“We were well aware that tonight it was a four point’s game, it was a game that got certain importance for the first place in our division. Honestly since the beginning of the year we didn’t talk about the result, we talked about a lot about the performance we put the importance on the process. Tonight the importance of the game put a little more challenge especially since they beat us last time we met in Shawinigan.”
photo courtesy of Eric Lamirande of infosportquebec
“We scored 22 goals in our last four games and we only gave up four. Last week we won twice by the score of 5-1 against Rouyn-Noranda and Val-d’Or last Friday we missed five players, on Saturday six but we found a way to wins both games,” continued Bouchard after the game.
“We have to tip our hat off,” Cataractes head coach Bouchard said about the performance of Justin Bernier (3 goals 2 assists), offensively he help us a lot since several games. Since we have had injuries in mid-November, he plays on first two lines. He isn’t big player physically but offensively he was very good for us in last month and a half, he scores big goals and defensively he played better.”
As the lone scorer for Quebec, Boucher talked to reporters after the game. “We have lots of emotions with lots of things around the team (read possible trade, rumors since period of trade begin on Sunday), I don’t think we can use that as an excuse, we fought for the first place in our division. I think we saw whose team is the best in our division.”
“We played one of the best team in the league,” admitted Boucher, “yes you have lots of distraction the trade, the movement, players who plays the other didn’t but that is the thing we can have any control over. It happen every years so we can’t use that as an excuse.”
photo courtesy of Eric Lamirande of infosportquebec
“I don’t know how to explain it but every times Shawinigan come here in Videotron Center they always are ready to play, they always played their best hockey. It wasn’t complicated just look last night scores and tonight scores and the one of last year I mean the last two games before Christmas break, yes you have the trades, yes we have guys who will travel tomorrow at five am to go back in their family, you have a lots of distractions. When the game began great it is fine but when the game began on bad note it didn’t went well.” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said after the game.
Quebec next game will be December 28 in Blainville-Boisbriand facing the Armada.
Eight other games were on QMJHL schedule on Saturday night.
Rouyn-Noranda 3 vs. Drummondville 4
Val-d’Or 7 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 2
Baie-Comeau 3 vs. Chicoutimi 4
Sherbrooke 5 vs. Gatineau 4
Victoriaville 3 vs. Rimouski 2
Cape Breton 7 vs. Acadie-Bathurst 2
Moncton 6 vs. Halifax 4
Charlottetown 2 vs. Saint John 8
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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