Shawinigan falls down to Val D’Or, Chicoutimi and Drummondville
After beating Baie-Comeau in overtime, the Daniel Renaud wanted to see his team extend extend its winning streak. Unfortunately, the Cataractes have lost all three games. If Val D’Or’s goaltender was the reason why Shawinigan dropped the first one, the Cataractes had nobody else to blame but themselves for the second loss. The last game against Drummondville saw both team put a big offensive show who turned to the Voltigeurs’ advantage.
Étienne Montpetit shines for Val D’Or
On Friday night, the Cataractes were at home to face the Foreurs. Despite putting 44 shots on net, Shawinigan suffered a 5-3 loss. Étienne Montpetit, considered by many QJMHL experts as the best goalie in the league this season, multiplied miraculous saves and his stunning performance paved the way for the Foreurs. On the other side of the ice, Mikhail Denisov faced 15 shots and allowed 4 goals before being tossed out of the game by Daniel Renaud.
Val D’Or got on the board first after killing a penalty when Maxim Myzurin beat Denisov glove side. The first period of action was also the scene of Simon Benoit’s first goal of the season when he completed the play initiated by Samuel Asselin et Cameron Askew. Sadly, 22 seconds later, the Foreurs stroke back.
In the second period, Shawinigan charged the net and managed to put 19 shots on net. None of these ended up behind Montpetit who was simply on fire! Just ask Vincent Senez who got rob 3 times only in that period. On the other end, the Foreurs added two goals to take a 4-1 lead before the 40 minute break.
What people will remember is that the second period of play was the scene of two fights. First Leon Denny and Nathan Cyr took a few swings. Then, Frédérik Théorêt, who is 5¨9 180 pounds, gave a severe lesson of fighting to Tyler Higgins, who is 6¨5 220 pounds.
In the third, Gabriel Denis, assisted by Samuel Asselin and Cameron Askew again, pulled Shawinigan within two. Then, with 5 minutes left in the third, Simon Benoit scored his second of the game assisted by Samuel Blier and Cameron Askew. For the 20 year old American, it was his third assist of the game.
Val D’Or’s Mathieu Nadeau stopped the comeback with a late empty net goal late in the third.
No doubt that this loss hurts a lot. We faced a hot goalie tonight. 44 shots, 25 scoring chances. I’m speechless. Vincent Senez had 6 scoring chances himself. He paid the price but did not get rewarded. After a tough start, Simon Benoit was dominant. We came back and worked hard but it wasn’t enough. – Daniel Renaud
Chicoutimi has the upper hand
Fifty fans decided to take a 4 and a half hour bus ride to cheer their favorites. Unfortunately for them, Shawinigan players didn’t play their best and fell 5-1 to Chicoutimi. Lucas Fitzpatrick made 25 saves and Jan Drozg was the only player to get a puck past Alexis Shank.
No team managed to open the scoring during the first period of action. The Cataractes shot 13 times on Alexis Shank but any of them were dangerous. On the other end of the ice, Lucas Fitzpatrick was brilliant facing 10 shots. The best scoring chance for Chicoutimi happened when Kevin Klima got away on the breakaway but was stopped by Fitzpatrick.
In the second, lack of execution cost Shawinigan big time and Zachary Lavigne, by two times, scored when he was all alone in the crease. At the end of the second period, Shawinigan fans got their first reason to cheer when Jan Drozg jumped on a rebound to beat Alexis Shank. Sadly it would be the last time for Shawinigan fans to get excited.
In the third, Shawinigan got penalized to often and spent 8 minutes in the box during the whole period. Vincent Tremblay (2) and Marc-Antoine Gagné, with his first career goal, took full control of the hockey game.
After the game, Daniel Renaud had lost his usual good temper and had tough words concerning his players.
It’s one thing to love winning hockey games. But it’s another one hating to lose one. Our players have to hate to lose. That’s it. Second of all, our best players have to be the best players on the ice. That’s also that cost us the game. We will address the situation quickly. – Daniel Renaud
Crazy night in Drummondville
Every game between Shawinigan and Drummondville has been a spectacular matchup since the beginning of the season and last game was no exception as Drummondville overcame Shawinigan by a final score of 8-5.
After 20 minutes of action, Shawinigan and Drummondville were tied at two thanks to Simon Dubois and Vasily Glotov.
The second period offered a lot of action for the fans at Centre Marcel-Dionne as Shawinigan scored 3 times and Drummondville 4. For the Cataractes, Samuel Blier, Cameron Askew and Frédérik Théorêt (his first in the QMJHL) lighted the lamp. In the third, Daniel Renaud saw his team give up 2 goals.
It was a tough night for the goaltenders as all 4 of them took part of the action. The only goaltender to keep a perfect save percentage was Olivier Rodrigue who came in the third period for the Voltigeurs.
