On Sunday, Rimouski Oceanic head coach Serge Beausoleil warned that despite losing the first game of the series to the Remparts, his team had no intention of throwing in the towel. He had to be taken at his word.
Serge Beausoleil’s side muzzled the Quebec Remparts attack on Monday, winning 4-1, leveling chances in the three-of-five series between the two teams. All this while losing forwards Louis Robin and Jacob Mathieu during the match.
“We played almost the whole game with 10 attackers. I’m very proud of the boys. It’s our label. We want to keep up and haven’t given up,” said a happy Beausoleil.
One thing is for sure, the Océanic didn’t eliminate the Saint-Jean Sea Dogs by accident and they proved it again on Monday.
“We’re playing against a table leader who has no weaknesses. When you arrive and play against them you need to give them as little leeway as possible and try to reduce focus to very limited times. The guys are doing well and reacting. »
After netting Patrik Hamrla for the first game, Beausoleil had called Gabriel Robert on Monday and he did well by blocking 33 of the 34 pucks aimed at him.
FAST TARGET
Eliminated the day before, it didn’t take Océanic long to score their first goal of the series. Serge Beausoleil’s side benefited from their first shot at Fabio Iacobo, that of Alex Drover. After James Malatesta leveled the game in game two, Maël St-Denis, Drover and Alexandre Blais struck in quick succession in an empty net to confirm victory for the Rimouskois.
Still, Patrick Roy didn’t feel like the best team on the ice had won on Monday.
“It was the same game as yesterday [dimanche]. We dominated and the only difference is the puck didn’t go in. […] We had several chances in third place, but hockey isn’t always fair and it wasn’t today. I think we were the better of the two teams. Easy. »
In goal, Iacobo gave up three times in 17 shots. After the match, Roy was unsure if he would continue with his veteran for Game 4.
“He hid the three gates. We cannot criticize the work of our goalkeeper,” he defended.
THE PROMISE FOR LEFT HANDERS
The series will now move to Rimouski for Games 3 and 4, Thursday and Friday. As it’s three out of five, the Océanic now have home field advantage.
“Three out of five, it’s a little cheeky. I won’t hide it. At the same time we are there and we have to play well away from home and find a way to win there. It’s not an easy place to win,” added Roy.
For his part, Nathan Gaucher was more succinct in his comments.
“The fact that the Océanic has the advantage of the ice doesn’t change anything for us. We will arrive ready. They beat us and it’s not true that they will beat us again. »
BEST HOPE
In fact, prior to the game, the QMJHL presented Gaucher with the Michael Bossy Trophy, which was awarded to the QMJHL’s top pick for the NHL draft. The Remparts center player received the trophy from his brother Jacob and father Yannick.
Gaucher then returned the favor to his brother.
In a meeting with the media after Monday’s game, he announced to Jacob that he was the recipient of the Guy Carbonneau Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward in the QMJHL.