Titans leave home two games up

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Opportunistic in first period leading by one after first period Acadie-Bathurst saw Quebec coming back with the score being tied 2-2 after forty minutes of play. After Remparts missed two great opportunities to break the tie, Titan came back with four unanswered goals leading them to 6-2 win to go to Quebec City for game three and four next Tuesday and Wednesday leading quarter final series 2-0. Vladimir Kutznetsov with two goals and an assist and Rodrigo Abols with two goals took charge of Titan offensive.

Contrary to last night, Acadie Bathurst is really opportunistic as they took advantage of their two best scoring opportunities to take a 2-0 lead before seeing their opponent scoring their only goal in first period.

Titan opened the scoring 4:24 into the opening period. A great forchecking by the Titan led to Acadie-Bathurst first goal. Forgotten near Kiselev goalie crease Christopher Boivin scored his first of the playoff beating Quebec netminder on his left side.

Less than three minutes later Acadie-Bathurst came back with a second goal in first period. Making first save on shot from Matthew Ferrari Quebec goalie was unable to keep the rebound appearing right on Vladimir Kutznetsov beating Quebec goalie on his right side with a backhand shot.

Been 0-in-5 with a man advantage in first game the night before Quebec got first chance with a man up as Jeffrey Trtuchon-Viel went to the box. Not able to get real scoring opportunity Quebec was 0-in-6.

Playing four-on-four A great individual effort by Louis-Filip Cote led to visitor first and only goal of the first period. Quebec left winger scored his first of the playoff beating Anthony Dumont-Bouchard over his left shoulder at 9:03.

Acadie-Bathurst thought they had regained their two goal leads when Dawson Theede roof the puck top corner but even with referee on the ice indicated a goal video judge waved-off the goal for goalie interference. Score still 2-1 Acadie-Bathurst.

Been 0-in-6 in the series, after getting first power play opportunity, Quebec ended first period on a power play after Antoine Morand got four minutes for high sticking on Quebec defenseman Benjamin Gagne.

After missing two great chance in the beginning of the middle frame as Dereck Gentile on breakaway and Yanick Turcotte missed the net, Quebec got on the board for second times in the game bringing back both teams to square one. Already been 0-in-three with a man up Quebec took advantage of penalty to Truchon-Viel for roughing.

Dmitry Buynitskyi wrist shot beat Acadie-Bathurst netminder Dumont-Bouchard on right side with 56.5 seconds remaining in second period. Both teams got several chances in the second period before Quebec second goals but each times goaltenders kept the door closed.

Missing excellent opportunity to begin the third period to take the lead, Quebec saw Acadie-Bathurst sealing Quebec fate in third period with four unanswered goals to win game two of their quarter final series 2-0.

Dawson Theede on second efforts put the puck behind Quebec netminder to give back the lead to home team 3-2. Vladimir Kutznetsov made the score 4-2 taking advantage of the turnover by Quebec defenseman Christian Huntley behind his own net at 15:39.

Rodrigo Abols scored last two titan goals as his first one at17:44 was in an empty net. Abols second goal, Acadie-Bathurst sixth one came with 36.1 seconds remaining as the Titan center wrist shot beat Quebec netminder who came back in his net to end the game.

Quebec quarterfinal series will go in Quebec City for game four and five next Tuesday and Wednesday.

Six other QMJHL quarterfinal series games were on QMJHL schedule on Saturday night.

Val-d’Or 0 vs. Shawinigan 3 (quarter final series tied 1-1)

Victoriaville 1 vs. Chicoutimi 2 Chicoutimi lead quarter final series 2-0)

Rimouski 1 vs. Saint John 4 (Saint John lead quarter final series 2-0)

Baie-Comeau 2 vs. Charlottetown 8

Gatineau 6 vs. Cape Breton 7 (overtime) Cape Breton lead quarter final series 2-0)

Halifax 2 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 3 (overtime) (quarter final series tied 1-1)

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