QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Victim of 15 goals in last two games, Sherbrooke find a way to stop winless streak at two with 6-3 wins against the Quebec Remparts in front of 2606 fans in Leo-Paul Drolet arena. Mathieu Olivier with two goals and Benjamin Tardif with one goal one assist led Sherbrooke offensive.
Sherbrooke broke the ice first 10:19 into the opening period. Mathieu Olivier wrist shot beat Quebec goaltender Antoine Samuel high on right side.
Going 6-in-68 on power play since the team returned from Christmas holidays, Quebec was 0-in-2 on first two opportunities in the game.
Ranked 11th overall on power play with 18.3 percent with 44 goals in 241 opportunities, Quebec got on the board on their third occasion with a man up. Philipp Kurashev one-timer, left no chance to Phoenix goaltender Rilley Pickard hitting the crossbar before going in, 3:12 seconds after Sherbrooke got their first goal.
Sherbrooke regained the lead taking advantage of an icing attempt by Remparts center Gregor MacLeod. Intercepting Quebec center icing Jaxon Bellamy surprised the former Baie-Comeau netminder between his pads with 4:59 to play in the first period.
In second period, the teams traded goals but Sherbrooke led by one after two periods of play. The Phoenix took a two-goal lead as Kevin Gilbert won his battle for the puck on the board after seen missing his pass on a two-on-one breakaway. As Gilbert found teammate Samuel Poulin, the second selection overall in 2017 scored his sixth goal of the year, beating Samuel on backhanded shot from the slot at 8:35.
Quebec cut Sherbrooke lead in half, as Louis-Filip Cote beat Pickard also with a backhanded shot after winning his battle behind the net with 46.1 seconds remaining in middle frame.
Sherbrooke began the third periods on strong note as they regained their two-goal lead for second time in the game second of the game scored by Mathieu Olivier only 33 seconds in. Olivier redirected a shot from Thomas Gregoire from Quebec blue line.
Quebec came back again cutting home team lead to one goal with Gregor MacLeod’s 13th of the year, his fifth with the Quebec Remparts 7:07 later after Sherbrooke fourth goal.
Sherbrooke replied with next two goals in 5:17 to seal their victory against Quebec stopping their winless streak at two. Marek Zachar with his 17th of the year completed the play of Benjamin Tardif with 8:12 remaining to the third periods. Phoenix left winger Benjamin Gagne scored Sherbrooke last goal in the game beating Quebec netminder over left shoulder with 3:29 remaining.
Quebec will end his weekend on Sunday afternoon hosting Drummondville Voltigeurs.
Four other games were on QMJHL schedule on Saturday
Cape Breton 2 vs. Charlottetown 1
Moncton 5 vs. Chicoutimi 4
Saint John 2 vs. Halifax 5
Victoriaville 8 vs. Val-d’Or 7
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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