Victoriaville earns place in four aces round, eliminating Drummondville

QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Leading the series 3-1, Victoriaville returned to Drummondville with the chance to close the series and go to QMJHL semifinal. The game remained scoreless through forty minutes before the visitor broke the ice with first two goals in more than seven minutes. At the end, with a team with more maturity and experience Victoriaville won game five shutting out Drummondville 3-0, earning the chance to face Acadie-Bathurst. In the other series Charlottetown will face Blainville-Boisbriand.

“It has been great series, I think other than the series you saw it was a very intense. Each game had their stories,” answered Victoriaville head coach Louis Robitaille. “In first game both teams were skating very well used their speed, this afternoon, both goalies played very well, gave a great show. Rodrique (Olivier) made lots of key saves in the beginning, even in second he made two key saves against Lafrance overall it has been a great series the fans in centre of Quebec were the winner.”

Victoriaville defenseman Dominic Cormier earned the distinction to be the first one to get the first goal. “It is for sure to be first goal, I worked hard all game the game was fast and fortunately we got the big win.” Tigres defenseman said.

“It was a bog goal and we go to next round,” answered Tigres defenseman Cormier when he was ask about his celebration.

Getting 15 shots after first forty minutes in the game Victoriaville veteran netminder Etienne Montpetit stayed calm even with score been 0-0. Experience, made big difference in this kind of game.

“We gave big show tonight, it was a real playoff game,” Victoriaville goaltender Etienne Montpetit. I think the best team won tonight.” Continued veteran netminder Montpetit.

“We played sixty minutes, we have guys with experience it might made the difference. We didn’t gave up, we gave all we had until the end. For sure it was a young team on the other side, but we came here with the intention of closing the series.” The one who registered his first shutout of the series Montpetit.

Dominating in shots on goal, Victoriaville got five or six good scoring opportunities but veteran Drummondville goaltender Olivier Rodrigue kept the door closed preventing Tigres that leading series 3-1, to get the lead. Tigres got two power play opportunities but again, Voltigeurs netminder made saves.

While first period belonged to Victoriaville in possession time and shots on goal, Drummondville played better in second period even if Victoriaville still led in shots on goal adding 12 others in middle frame against only 8 on Voltigeurs side. Best scoring chance from either team came on Drummondvile side during a shorthanded situation as defenseman Xavier Bernard wrist shot as been blocked by Victoriaville Etienne Montpetit. First shot on goal in second periods by Drummondville came after 12 minutes of play.

After forty scoreless minutes, Victoriaville drew first blood with two goals in more than seven minutes of play. Entering the offensive zone Dominic Cormier beat Olivier Rodrigue with 11:23 to go.

Felix Lauzon scored Tigres second goal more than seven minutes after the first goal at 15:52 of third period. Jimmy Huntington scored third Victoriaville goal in an empty net with 2:30 remaining to the third periods.

“Al games were tight, we played against a great team, and it wasn’t an easy match up for second round. But we have a young team, we learned all year long, we have had great season and it is part of our learning process,” Drummondville head coach Dominique Ducharme.

“Experience made the difference, physical maturity and mental if you look for details, battle along the board, if we could won some here and there but in the end it is a good team matured, and experienced, I think it played in the end.” Voltigeurs head coach Ducharme said.

No other second series were on QMJHL on Sunday.

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