QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. —Trailing by one early in the opening period, tied after forty minutes of play Val-d’Or took control of the game in third period scoring three times to finally pull the trigger sealing Quebec fate winning 5-2 Quebec. Ivan Kozlov with three goals and Maxim Muzyurin with four assists played very solid games for the visitor.
Val-d’Or right winger Adam Cheezo scoring first Foreurs goal photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
“Quebec played last night so I think the first period they were better than us, in second we found ours leg back and in third we created offensive. What we had to do was putting the puck behind the defense, prevent the turnovers. I think we allowed lots of shots from the slot, so we have to give credit (to Quebec) for that. Baribeau (Dereck) at the end has been very sharp he made big saves. So as soon as we succefully dump the puck behind their Defense and be first on the puck, we are big we need to used it be physical and today it was the third period we have had better legs.” Val-d’Or head coach Mario Durocher said after the game near his team locker room.
In the first period, dominated in shots on goal by Val-d’Or (8-3), Quebec opened the scoring at 13:43. Working behind opponent goaltender Quebec rookie Jeremy Laframboise score his first goal in QMJHL as his backhand shot deflected on stick of Foreur defenseman Mederick Racicot before going over Val-d’Or goaltender Dereck Baribeau left shoulder.
Kept in silence on their first power play opportunity following a penalty to Mikael Robidoux, Val-d’Or scored twice in 56 seconds. Foreurs first goal came from the stick of Adam Cheezo his first of the regular season. Cheezo wrist shot beat Quebec netminder Evgeny Kiselev at 8:54.
Val-d’Or goaltender Dereck Baribeau played strong third period helping his team to win photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
Fifty-six seconds later Ivan Kozlov scored his fourth of the year at 9:50 giving to visitor a 2-1 lead.
Quebec came back to tie the game with 4:20 remaining in middle frame. Unable to control following a shot from Quebec defenseman Aaron Dutra, Olivier Garneau jump on rebound beating Val-d’Or netminder over left shoulder at 15:50.
With the score tied after two periods of play, all hoped for a different scenario than the night before, against Saint John. But unfortunately for fans in the Videotron Center the visitor came back in third scoring three other goals to seal Quebec fate.
Val-d’Or defenseman David Hanley shot from the blue line find his way between Kiselev’s pads 2:38 into the third period.
Already scoring his fourth goals in the season Foreurs left winger adds two other to complete his hat trick leading his team to victory. His wrist shot from right face-off circle beat Quebec goalie between his pads for second times in the game at 14:17.
Kozlov came back more than five minutes later scoring his third of the game in an empty net as his team were in power play situation. His third goal came at 19:43.
If Kozlov ended his game with three goals his teammate Maxim Mizyurin got three assists. Selected 15th overall in first round of 2015 Val-d’Or goaltender Dereck Baribeau played solid game making good save when the time come to preserve his team leads. Besides giving first goal in the game to Quebec he was almost perfect.
Quebec rookie Jeremy Laframboise scoring his first QMJHL goal and first goal of the game photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
“Guys played very well in front of me to give us a chance to win,” Val-d’Or netminder Dereck Baribeau said to the reporters surrounding him after the game. “My first game last year (in February) was the worst in senses of being nervous now I’m used to it. It was my second years in the league and it is good.” The one who wear his glove on right hand to catch the puck.
Scoring first goal of the game, his first in the QMJHL Jeremy Laframboise was happy even if it wasn’t the best goal. “It wasn’t the best goal I scored in my career but it has been a great feeling, I have waited this moment for long and finally it came,” the fifth round selection (80th overall) in 2015 Jeremy Laframboise.
“It was like last night game,” answered veteran defenseman Raphael Maheux about the way his team played against the Foreurs. “We have had tough time to establish ourselves on power play. We have three goals that we could do differently like last night. Little mistakes cost us at the end like last night and again tonight. We have tough times on power play we should get into the other zone together, instead we drop the puck deep but no one come to get it. We aren’t set to do it together.”
For Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher, he agreed to say it was almost same scenario than last night.
Quebec goaltender Evgeny Kiselev in action photo courtesy of Jonathan L’Heureux of infosportquebec
“Yes it can be repetitive, it was a rookie mistake that cost us the third goal, on power play we moved the puck good at the beginning but at the end we didn’t manufactured much.” Quebec head coach Philippe Boucher said.
“Their matured defensemen did gave us hard times as their two Europeans. We won the face-off we have had full control of the puck but we lose the puck and that cost us the goal. We have to live with that. On the other goal, they weren’t related but we had two young 16 years old on the ice. In first period it was Laframboise who gave us the lead scoring first goal in the game and Coxhead almost played seven minutes in first period. We gave ice times to these guys, we were in the game but it is deceiving that we can’t found a way to wins.”
Quebec next game will be on the road next Wednesday in Baie-Comeau against the Drakkar.
Five other games in the QMJHL on Saturday.
Acadie-Bathurst 3 vs. Drummondville 7
Victoriaville 3 vs. Baie-Comeau 4
Charlottetown 2 vs. Halifax 5
Rimouski 0 vs. Moncton 5
Chicoutimi 2 vs. Rouyn-Noranda 6
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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