QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Winning only 4 of their last 15 games back from the

Quebec goaltender Francois Brassard - photo by Serge Poulin

Christmas break, the Quebec Remparts took advantage of their opponent missing crucial players in victory. Francois Brassard, third star of the game, earned his first career shutout. The Quebec victory over Acadie-Bathurst was their 600^th since 1975.

Quebec scored two goals in the opening period adding a third one in an empty net to win their second consecutive game.

Adam Erne was the first to beat the Acadie-Bathurst netminder Robert Steeves with his 23^rd of the year at 12:58, Marc-Antoine Carrier (first point with Quebec) and Kurt Etchegary got the helpers.

“I’m very satisfied,” Quebec head coach Patrick Roy said about the kind of game his team played to win for fifth times in their last 16 games. “I’m happy about the intensity we were able to maintain over sixty minutes, that’s what I wanted. The only time I didn’t like was on our power play but for the rest I found we did great.”

Mikhail Grigorenko got Quebec on the scoreboard for second time in the period on a great pass from Axel Rioux less than 5:00 later.

 

Quebec forward Mikhail Grigorenko - photo by Serge Poulin

Leading by two after the first twenty minutes Quebec got their best scoring opportunity playing in shorthanded situation during a penalty to Anthony Duclair who had been penalized for boarding with 6:28 gone in first half of second period.

“I’m happy for him,” Roy said about his goaltender’s performance against the Titan, “He (Brassard) works hard in practice. When we needed great save he was there to do it.

Sometimes when you didn’t have too many shots, not many scoring opportunities, it is the kind of game that can be dangerous, a goal could bring a team back into a game. It has had a mix of both, he got luck on his side but he also made great saves.”

Quebec had several good chances to score but Robert Steeves kept his team in the game ending with the second star of the game.

 

Quebec forward Logan Shaw - photo by Serge Poulin

Underlining Quebec good scoring chances during the game Roy said, “Robert Steeves kept his team in the game making important saves for them.”

“Like I said to the guys, if we continue to work like this the puck will eventually go in and for our confidence it could help us. The only thing is, to continue to play with consistency like we did lately and trying to bring it in a third consecutive game. We played like this in Blaiville-Boisbriand.”

For Acadie-Bathurst head coach Eric Dubois, he was the first to recognize his team did not play a great game. “Yes we did not played great game but playing without some of our best players (Zach O’Brien, Brent Turnbull and Christophe Losier) it certainly affects our offensive possibility, I guess it could be the same when Quebec miss Grigorenko.”

“In the first period, it was the festival of turnovers we didn’t get on the puck first. We played two big games against Halifax and Moncton in our division I just hoped we didn’t come out flat like we did.”

Titan goaltender Robert Steeves - photo by Serge Poulin

“Trailing by two after two periods playing without O’Brien Turnbull, it should have been good opportunity for some to step up their games but it wasn’t too conclusive.” Analyzed Titan head coach after his team loss.

Quebec will play on the road next Friday facing the Rimouski Oceanic.

Only one other game was on QMJHL schedule on Tuesday

Blainville-Boisbriand 1 vs. Val-d’Or 5

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