Val-d’Or wins in OT giving Pascal Rheame first win as head coach

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Showing a record of 0-5-1-0, since the 2018-19 regular season Val-d’Or, Foreur netminder Jonathan Lemieux has been very solid in front of Foreurs net especially in last two minutes of the third period making 33 saves out of 35 Quebec shots forcing both teams to play an overtime period.

With the score 2-2 after sixty minutes of play, Foreurs right winger Nicolas Ouellet became the heroes putting the puck behind Quebec goaltender Dereck Baribeau right side 2:22 into the fourth period leading Val-d’Or to 3-2 overtime win.  

Taking advantage of their first of three power play opportunities, Quebec opened the scoring with 9:03 gone in the opening period. Taking a rebound from teammate defenseman Christian Huntley Remparts left winger Olivier Mathieu scored his second of the year beating Val-d’Or goaltender Jonathan Lemieux.

Xavier Cormier, Philipp Kurashev and Jeremie Laframboise with two and Andrew Coxhead with one got visitor other great scoring chances for Quebec.

Facing his former team, Quebec goaltender Dereck Baribeau has been perfect on all Val-d’Or eight shots he had to face. Going 4-in-26 for 15.4 percent efficiency Quebec was 1-in-3 in first period with a man up.

If Quebec was the only team to score goal in the first period taking advantage of their first power play opportunity, Val-d’Or came out strong in second also taking advantage of two of their three power plays to take the lead for first time in the game.

Beneficiary of their first opportunity with a man up with 11:03 to play in middle frame, Yan Dion scored his first beating Quebec netminder taking a rebound shot from teammate Felix Boivin, but not bore referee Marc-Antoine Chagnon had to review the goal on video. Dion’s goal was scored at 9:12 of the second period.

Beneficiary of 39 seconds five-on-three power play following consecutive penalties to Quebec defensemen Nicolas Savoie and Dylan Schives, Val-d’Or took the lead for first time in the game on Julien Tessier goal beating Quebec goalie on left side at 16:28.

Quebec began the third period tying the score 2-2 with only 2:18 gone into the period. Using Foreurs defenseman as a screen, Philipp Kurashev wrist shot beat Lemieux over his left shoulder.

Dominating most of the third periods, Quebec put lots of pressure in Huskies defensive zone trying to score goal that could make the difference in the game, in favor of Quebec offering by the same occasion a victory for their head coach Patrick Roy birthday. Getting a sixth power play opportunities, Quebec shots five times on Foreurs goalie with little bit over two minutes left. Val-d’Or netminder Lemieux kept the door closed pushing both teams in overtime.

Going along the board on his right side right winger Nicolas Ouellet just put the puck behind Quebec goalie 2:22 into overtime giving Val-d’Or their first win in 2018-19 regular season.

Quebec will end their Abitibi road trip in Rouyn-Noranda on Saturday facing the Huskies.

Five other games were on QMJHL schedule on Friday night.

Saint John 1 vs. Acadie-Bathurst 7

Charlottetown 3 vs. Baie-Comeau 8

Halifax 5 vs. Chicoutimi 4 (overtime)

Rimouski 4 vs. Drummondville 1

Victoriaville 2 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 5

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