Acadie-Bathurst Defenseman Zachary Malatesta (74)working behind the net covering Quebec player photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Already trailing 0-2 in their quarter final series against Acadie-Bathurst Quebec came back in front of their fans needing to play an almost perfect game. Tied 2-2 after forty minutes of play all hope was there for Quebec to win their first game. Taking the lead 3-2 inside the first half in the third period a penalty to Matthew Boucher opened the door to visiting team. Acadie-Bathurst scored five unanswered goals in last fifteen minutes of the third periods leading the Titan to 7-3 win, leading the quarter final series 3-0. Jeffrey Truchon-Viel (2-1) and Vladimir Kutznetsov (2-0) led Titan offensive.
Acadie-Bathurst opened the scoring for third time in the series.
Quebec put pressure on to begin the opening period. Using Quebec defenseman Raphael Maheux as screen Titan right winger Vladimir Kutznetsov wrist shot went between Quebec veteran defenseman legs before beating Quebec goaltender Evgeny Kiselev over his left shoulder 4:02 into the period.
Missing on their only power play opportunity in first period, visiting team was opportunistic adding a second goal with 1.4 seconds remaining. Jordan Maher surprised Quebec netminder over his left pads for his first goal of the series.
Beginning the second period with new goaltender Dereck Baribeau, after Kiselev had been beaten twice on seven shots in first period, Quebec broke the ice only 40 seconds in. Quebec captain Matthew Boucher wrist shot in a two-on-one breakaway left no chance to Acadie-Bathurst goaltender Anthony Dumont-Bouchard beating him over his left shoulder.
Scoring Quebec first goal in the game and in the series, Matthew Boucher saw his shot been redirect by Derek Gentile also scoring his first of the series at 5:09.
Acadie-Bathurst center Antoine Marand ends the game with 3 assists photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
Missing an excellent chance to take the lead as Philippe Boucher team play on power play with Acadie Bathurst getting best scoring chances in shorthanded situation, Quebec took the lead for first time in the game almost two minutes later as 16 year old center Andrew Coxhead, beat Titan goaltender over his left shoulder at 6:43 in the third period.
Up until then everything seemed to go in right direction for Quebec as they just took the lead in the game for first time until a penalty taken by Matthew Boucher. That penalty opened the door for Quebec opponent as Jeffrey Truchon-Viel brought both team back to square one with his second goal in that series at 8:51.
With the score tied 3-3, Acadie Bathurst added four more goals in the third period for a total of five goals including tying goal at 8:51. Christophe Boivin with his second of the series (10:07)), Vladimir Kuznetsov with his 5th, (16:00), Truchon-Viel with his second in the game and in third period, (16:53) and Dawson Theede in shorthanded situation at 19:12 in an empty net concluded visiting team scoring leading them to 7-3 win taking a 3-0 lead in the quarter final series.
“It was an incredible goal for sure, we are in playoff. It was a great game for us, more a big third period,” answered Acadie-Bathurst forward Christophe Boivin.
Quebec forward Yanick Turcotte (17) discussing with line judge photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
“I would say the first two periods was harder for us but in third we found a way to win and at the end that is what it counts. “
“The penalty (Matthew Boucher penalty) brought us back on the earth, we needed to push up until the end to get a chance to win,” continue the author of Titan game winning goal. “We knew it wouldn’t be an easy series but now we have the lead 3-0 and we only have to go and get the fourth one.”
For Acadie-Bathurst head coach Mario Pouliot he was satisfied of his team play in the first two periods. “We weren’t really satisfied of the way we played our first two periods. We weren’t as intense and solid as we use to be, we weren’t on the puck, and we work on perimeter, we didn’t brought the puck on net but in third period we came back on our way we used to play to our identity. We put lots of pressure on their defensemen. After their goal our power play scored big goal and after that we knew how to do the rest of the work.” Acadie Bathurst Mario Pouliot said.
On the other side Quebec head coach had hard time to explain or understand what happened in last fifteen minutes of the third period.
“We have a penalty that hurt us,” answered Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher after the game. “After that I have hard time to explain what happened, they kept things simple, drove on the net, we have been beaten in last fifteen minutes. Boivin beat us from the corner, guys who played well up until then it was very hard for them for last fifteen minutes.”
Quebec left winger Matthew Boucher (91) scores Quebec first goal but took costly penalty I third period photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
“We played good hockey there (in Acadie-Bathurst), not the first game there but second one, tonight our first period was our best from the beginning of the series, we didn’t give anything, we played tied and it was 2-0 for the other side. We know Baribeau can tended the goal sometime we have two way of changing the momentum whether we call a timeout or chance the goaltender that is what we did. Our second period has been by far our best, we did not give anything, in the middle of the game they have had only seven shots. The line of Coxhead gave the momentum, Matt (Matthew Boucher wake our offense up but unfortunately his penalty hurt us badly.” Concluded Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher.
Game four of the quarter final between Acadie-Bathurst and Quebec will be on Wednesday night
Six other quarter final series were on QMJHL schedule on Tuesday
Rouyn-Noranda 2 vs. Halifax 0 (Rouyn-Noranda leads quarter final series 2-1)
Chicoutimi 5 vs. Victoriaville 2 (Chicoutimi leads quarter final series 3-0)
Shawinigan 6 vs. Val-d’Or 3 (Shawinigan leads quarter final series 2-1)
Charlottetown 3 vs. Baie-Comeau 1 (Charlottetown lead Quarter final series 3-0)
Cape Breton 5 vs. Gatineau 2 (Cape Breton leads quarter final series 3-0)
Saint John 5 vs. Rimouski 2 (Saint John leads series 3-0)
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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