DSCN9680 Opening face-off between Val-d’Or center Yan Mandat (95) and Quebec center Alexandre Sills (10)
QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Coming into Quebec with seven consecutive wins, Val-d’Or opened the weekend with a 4-1 win against Quebec, keeping their winning streak alive. Center Yan Mandat and defenseman Alexis Pepin, a Colorado fourth-round, 114th overall pick, with one goal one assist led the Foreurs offense.
Playing great in the first half of the opening period Quebec saw the visitor scoring first goal on a bad outing from Quebec goaltender. Trying to make a pass along the board Quebec netminder saw his pass intercepted by Nicolas Aube-Kubel. Val-d’Or right winger made a perfect pass to defenseman Alexis Pepin left alone in slot scoring his 18th of the regular season at 9:39.
Val-d’Or scored their second goal just as Quebec penalty to Quebec defenseman Bryce O’Brien returned on the ice. The pass from Yan Mandat to Shawn Ouellet-St-Amand beating Quebec goaltender Callum Booth less than three minutes after Foreurs first goal at 12:25.
Like the first period Quebec got the first two scoring chances, from Alexandre Sills and defenseman Ross McDougall, best one came from Quebec center Sills forcing Foreurs netminder Baribeau to make shoulder save.
Quebec defenseman Ross McDougall (28) behind his net photo by Serge Poulin
Quebec scored on their first power play opportunity. Driving to the net beating Val-d’Or defenseman Olivier Desjardins Auguste Impose beat Foreurs netminder Dereck Baribeau between his pads with a backhand shot with 12:52 remaining in the middle frame.
Playing on their second power play following a penalty to Foreurs defenseman David Henley Val-d’Or left winger Anthony Richard had the best scoring opportunity following a turnover involving Quebec defenseman. Richard on breakaway force Quebec goalie to make key save keeping his team trailing by one 2-1. Quebec was 1-in-2 with man advantage after forty minutes.
Val-d’Or took a two-goal lead when center Yan Mandat took his own rebound to beat Quebec netminder pushing the puck behind Booth with 15:03 remaining in the third periods.
The visitor’s last goal came from the stick of Anthony Beauregard as his wrist shot beat Quebec netminder high on Booth left side with 6:21 to play.
DSCN9684 Quebec left winger Yanick Turcotte (17) photo by Serge Poulin
Selected in first round 5th overall in 2015 Dereck Baribeau has been solid in goal for Val-d’Or. “It was bit harder at the beginning but as the game went along I played with confidence, I think I did well tonight.” Foreurs goaltender Dereck Baribeau said near the visitor locker room.
“With the crowd and playing in front of my family it was very special. The shoots from everywhere like for testing me but I answered it well.” Continued the goaltender Baribeau.
For Val-d’Or head coach, he didn’t agree with the assessment that his team played well, “We have to give credit to the Remparts I think they work harder than us,” Foreurs head coach Mario Durocher said.
“The talent and the experience made the difference today. We have to play better than that, we have a big game tomorrow in our division we can’t take chance and be lazy. We played a good first period in second we were very soft, we thought it could be a roumba again.”
On Quebec side, assistant captain Alexandre Sills admitted his team played well and bounces could be on their side, “We worked hard tonight we were in the game longer but if we could have gotten several favorite bounces on our side instead of their side maybe we could capitalized on it. We have to build on that we work hard that is positive tonight.”
Last game in the QMJHL for lineseman Denis Drolet photo by Serge Poulin
Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher agreed with his captain about the positive things in that game.
“We began the game very well, we didn’t found way to score goals, after that we hurt ourselves on turnover we have had a defenseman in corner on goal we hurt ourselves in first but what I like is we never gave up, we tried to keep it up in third but we still have hard time to put the puck in the net. “ Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said about the game against one of the best team in the QMJHL.
Quebec next three games will be on the road with first stop in Victoriaville on next Wednesday.
Six other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday night
Charlottetown 7 vs. Cape Breton 6 (overtime)
Victoriaville 5 vs. Moncton 4 (overtime)
Acadie-Bathurst vs. Saint John (postponed due to bad weather)
Rimouski 3 vs. Blainville-Boisbriand 1
Rouyn-Noranda 5 vs. Chicoutimi 1
Drummondville 1 vs. Gatineau 3
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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