The Olympiques collect a point against the team of the moment in the QMJHL
GATINEAU – The Olympiques hosted the Chicoutimi Saguenéens at the Slush Puppie Centre on Wednesday evening. In a game full of twists and turns with two overtime periods, the Olympiques managed to squeeze an important point out of Yanick Jean’s troupe, who were on a 9-game winning streak.
Chicoutimi opens the scoring, but Gatineau strikes back three times
The Saguenéens needed just one minute and 48 seconds to open the scoring, as Maxim Massé scored his 30th goal of the campaign on a loose puck. Jérémie Minville (36th) replied for Gatineau, threading a return shot between the pads of Raphaël Précourt. Sander Wold (7th) then gave his team the lead with an extra man. After a lengthy review to ensure that the puck had fully entered the net, Wold’s goal was awarded. The Olympiques then returned to the power play and Alexander Gaudio tallied with just 0.4 seconds left in the first third, allowing the home side to retreat to the dressing room with a two-man lead.
Kian Hodgins and his teammates frustrate the Saguenéens
Rémi Delafontaine replaced Raphaël Précourt in front of the Chicoutimi net to start the second period. The Saguenéens controlled the disc in the offensive zone for the majority of the second period, but couldn’t find a way past Kian Hodgins. The team, who arrived at the Slush Puppie Centre on a 9-game winning streak, can’t seem to find their rhythm offensively, and Yanik Jean, who recently became the winningest head coach in QMJHL history, makes his displeasure heard. Neither team could find the back of the net, and the Olympiques maintained their 3-1 lead.
The Saguenéens have not said their last word
In the third period, Peteris Bulans re-energized the visitors after just under 12 minutes of play, reducing the deficit to a single goal. Then it was Émile Guité’s turn to get on the scoreboard when he found himself alone in the enclave. His powerful shot beat Kian Hodgins and tied the game. With a few minutes remaining, Justin Dumais (6th) restored the home side’s lead with a precise shot into the top corner. However, Maxim Massé tied the game with 55 seconds remaining with his second goal of the game on a throw-in return. We head into overtime.
Charles Boutin saved by the review
In the final moments of the 3-on-3 period, after several exciting back-and-forths, Charles Boutin creates a bad turnaround in the offensive zone that allows Émile Duquet to finish the game… But not exactly. Video review shows that Duquet was offside on the sequence. We’re now heading for a shootout.
Maxim Massé and Rémi Delafontaine are the heroes
In the shootout, Kian Hodgins got the job done against Émile Duquet, but Maxim Massé found the back of the net on Chicoutimi’s second attempt. At the other end, Labranche, Boisselle and Vetrano were all frustrated by Rémi Delafontaine, who gave his team a second win.
Last Saturday, the Olympiques took a point off the mighty Halifax Mooseheads. On Wednesday night, they did it again against a team that hadn’t suffered a defeat since January 28.
“We just picked up a point against a team that hasn’t lost in its last 10 games,” says head coach Serge Beausoleil, with a tone of pride.
“We pushed them to the limit, and I haven’t seen many teams push them to the limit like that lately,” Beausoleil points out.
It should also be mentioned that Mathis Gauthier and Jacob Kaine were absent from the line-up due to injuries.
“I still see a lot of positives, but I think with a little more experience, we would have won that game easily,” adds the Olympiques pilot.
The Olympiques’ next game is Friday (March 1) against the Val d’Or Foreurs at the Slush Puppie Centre.
A text by Philippe Villeneuve
