Shawinigan register second win over Quebec

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Winner of their first meeting against Quebec (6-0) on October 19 in Quebec, Shawinigan came out as winner for the second time this season by the score of 4-2. Samuel Bucek, with two goals, earned the third stars and the game winning goal belonged to Samuel Asselin.

Ending the first period taking a 2-0 lead, the Cataractes saw their opponent dominate the middle frame not just in shots on goal 13-8 but scored twice to tie the game 2-2.

Shawinigan came out taking the tempo of the third period attacking Quebec netminder Evgeny Kiselev from everywhere finally regaining their two-goal lead they had built in first period.

After winning face-off in offensive zone Samuel Asselin saw his teammates Bucek missing his shot. As the puck went to Asselin’s stick his wrist shot beat Remparts netminder on left side at 5:09 of the third period.

Already getting a goal in first period Bucek scored his second of the night, the goal that became the insurance goal with 4:28 remaining.

Cataractes head coach Claude Bouchard thought his team had scored a fifth goal as Dennis Yan redirected a shot from Brandon Gignac in an empty net, but after reviewing the puck had been redirected higher the shoulder. So referee confirmed that there was no goal.

Shawinigan open the scoring as the Brandon Gignac speed beat Quebec two defensemen before beating Quebec goalie Evgeny Kiselev top left shelves at 6:21.

The Cataractes came back 2:30 later with a second goal. Taking advantage of missing attempt by Quebec netminder to clean the front of his net, Shawinigan left winger Samuel Bucek took lose puck putting behind Kiselev at 8:51. Cavan Fitzgerald and Samuel Girard got the assist. For Girard it was his 10th point since he is back from Nashville Predators training camp.

Quebec got two power play chances in second period but on both occasions Shawinigan kept the visitor out of the scoreboard.

A turnover in Shawinigan defensive zone proved to be costly for the Cataractes. Losing the puck in his own zone Samuel Girard saw Philipp Kurashev beats Shawinigan goaltender Mikhail Denisov with a backhanded shot at 6:33 of middle frame.

Dominating second period with 10 shots in first eight minutes, Dmitry Buynitskiy brought both teams back to square one scoring Quebec second goal in the game, his second of the year. The European forward redirect the shot from teammate’s defenseman Etienne Vermette with 8:28 to go in second period.

Quebec next game will be in Blainville-Boisbriand on Saturday afternoon in a home and home series. The Armada will be in Quebec on Sunday afternoon to complete the weekend.

Four other games were on QMJHL schedule on Wednesday night

Rimouski 2 vs. Bainville-Boisbriand 4

Victoriaville 1 vs. Sherbrooke 4

Halifax 2 vs. Gatineau 5

Drummondville 4 vs. Val-d’Or 5

Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com