RIMOUSKI | Before leaving for Rimouski, Patrick Roy had mentioned that he expected one of his two goalkeepers to force his hand. Yesterday, William Rousseau took a step in this direction as his brilliance enabled the Remparts to reach the semi-finals thanks to a 5-2 victory over Rimouski Océanic in game four of the quarter-final series.
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Rousseau was especially brilliant in a first half dominated by an Océanic team who had no intention of seeing their season end. Despite everything, the Red Devils were able to retreat to the dressing room with a deficit of only 1 to 0, after a beautiful goal by William Dumoulin.
“It was extraordinary, said Patrick Roy. He was the reason we were able to stay in this game in the first half. I don’t remember the last time we gave ten goalscoring opportunities in the first half. »
“I built on my positioning in the first period and kept it simple,” Rousseau added. I got in front of the puck as much as I could and didn’t comment. I controlled the game. »
This confidence, Rousseau believes, is due, among other things, to the fact that he also played match number three on Thursday.
Photo Alexandre D’Astous
Head to head disputed between Maël St-Denis and Mikaël Huchette.
“I am a goalkeeper who likes consistency. Yesterday I played, and today, in first class, I saw the record. It was like a beach ball. »
ADVERSITY
Once again, the game was much closer than the score indicated. After a difficult first period, the Remparts hit quickly at the beginning of the second, from 36Y second, thanks to James Malatesta.
“We had a really normal first period, admitted Théo Rochette. After the period, we talk. We didn’t want a game number five, so we really came out strong in game two and from there we had the impulse. »
Patrick Roy was one of those who spoke in the locker room.
Photo Alexandre D’Astous
Remparts goalkeeper William Rousseau saved this sequence in the first half.
“Many times, Larry Robinson would walk into the locker room when we were playing in Boston and say that if we could weather the storm and only lose by one goal, we could win the game. »
Following Malatesta’s goal, Viljami Marjala gave the Remparts the lead before the end of the second, then Louis Crevier injured the Océanic 15 seconds into the third period for a lead that put Quebec 3-1.
“These are series goals. These are never great scores and every goal hurts. At the beginning of the period, it can calm the crowd down a bit, as it is very noisy here,” admitted Crevier.
equipment problem
Théo Rochette arrived on the Remparts bench a few minutes after the start of the game injured who knows where. The latter, like Patrick Roy, left the mystery hanging over the meeting.
“A team problem,” Rochette said, smiling.
Which Roy corroborated, sarcastically.
“I had a skating problem. A skate is always more difficult. »
One thing is certain, Rochette, his “skating problem” and his line were not as dominant as usual against Rimouski. Which doesn’t bother Roy too much.
“I trust that they will be the ones who will make the difference in the next series, that’s how it should be seen,” he said.
The Remparts will face the Shawinigan Cataractes in the semifinals. The cycle will begin next Wednesday at the Videotron Center.
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