The Shawinigan Cataractes scored two goals in 78 seconds in the third period to complete the comeback and sign their first victory of the Memorial Cup tournament. Daniel Renaud’s men defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings by a score of 4 to 3.
The QMJHL champions were the first to score in the first period, as Oil Kings defenseman Carson Golder was ejected from the game after hitting Maximilien Ledoux from behind. During this power play, defender Jordan Tourigny hit the target with a wrist shot from the blue line.
The Shawinigan residents kept their lead until the end of the engagement, but 44 seconds before retreating to the locker room for the first intermission, Luke Prokop beat Charles-Antoine Lavallée with a swinging shot from the blue line.
Tyler Horstmann (Edmonton) and Xavier Bourgault (Shawinigan) scored in the second period, then Cole Miller broke the tie with a perfect wrist shot on a three-on-two build late in the second period.
Dubé, Bourque and Nadeau took matters into their own hands
There were only 5:37 in the third period when Pierrick Dubé tied the game with a shot swept from the blue line. The puck snuck through all of the Oil Kings players before hitting a defender’s glove and ending up behind goaltender Sebastian Cossa.
“I think we’re used to that, it happened to us a lot in the playoffs and it served us well again tonight. We are a good team that does not put pressure on itself, even if we are falling behind. We proved it again today against an excellent team. It was a good match for both sides and we were able to find the small business to put it in,” said Dubé.
The house announcer had not yet finished announcing his goal that Olivier Nadeau made the Cataractes fans present at Harbor Station jump.
Recovering a shot off target, Mavrik Bourque was knocked down behind the net. On the ground and with one hand, with defender Kaiden Guhle on his back, the captain skilfully passed the disc in front to his accomplice Nadeau who thus gave the Shawinigan a 4 to 3 lead.
“I had no choice but to have only one hand, because I was hooked on the other. When I saw Nads in front of the goal, I only tried to make a pass and it happened that he had it on the pallet,” Bourque humbly said after the game.
His trio companion did not hesitate to praise him.
“He gave me an incredible pass in front of the net. This is the kind of game he is able to do with regularity. He did it wonderfully. I was going to the net, I didn’t really expect it, but Mavrik is able to make plays that no one sees coming, ”explained the prospect of the Buffalo Sabers.
The Oil Kings retired their goaltender late in the game. They were unable to force extra time, not even with a power play in the last 23 seconds of the game when Mavrik Bourque was in the penalty box.
” I am proud to see the resilience of this group. They never let go. I’m proud of them “
Change to the trios
Throughout the match, the Oil Kings systematically sent their best defenders into the fray to counter the trio formed by Xavier Bourgault, Mavrik Bourque and Olivier Nadeau. Head coach Daniel Renaud decided to separate Bourgault and Bourque for the third period, forcing the Oil Kings to change strategy.
“That was kind of the goal. It’s not new for them… We did it a few times during the playoffs so it wasn’t a surprise for us internally, but surely it was a bit for them (the Oil Kings)”, smiled Pascal Dupuis
The Saint John Sea Dogs will face the Edmonton Oil Kings on Wednesday night. The Cataractes will play their next game on Thursday against the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Source: Radio-Canada
