Gatineau looks on course to clinch one of the last playoff spots this QMJHL season, and a win over Shawinigan will help solidify that.
The first full week of March started Wednesday with a busy slate of QMJHL games. There were a few shock results, including a Gatineau side looking to put a bigger gap between themselves and the two non-playoff teams.
Zoomed In: Gatineau (5) - Shawinigan (1)
Gatineau's Maxim Dube (left) and Justin Boisselle celebrate a goal over Shawinigan in the Olympiques' 5-1 win Wednesday. (Photo: Vincent Létourneau)It won't happen officially for at least a week or two, but Gatineau looks in place to be the 16th team clinching into this year's QMJHL playoff race.
It definitely hasn't been a banner season for the Olympiques, a rebuilding year where they never looked to compete, but they can have some solace in not being one of the two teams to miss the playoffs this season.
And on Wednesday in Shawinigan, the Olympiques showed they can still hang in there with some of the playoff teams.
After a scoreless first period, it was the Cataractes' Olivier Charron who opened the scoring 7:34 into the second, but from there it was all Gatineau the rest of the way.
Gabriel Seguin tied the game on the power play before Jeremie Dumas-Larouche gave the visitors a lead they'd never relinquish the rest of the game with five minutes to go in the middle frame.
Another power-play goal, this time from Maxim Dube, would put the Olympiques up by two with 12 seconds before the intermission.
In the third, goals from Louis-Etienne Halley and Justin Boisselle would put the game away for Gatineau, as they coasted to an impressive 5-1 victory away to a solid Cataractes side.
Danai Shaiikov had another strong performance in goal, stopping 31 of 32 en route to picking up the victory. Dumas-Larouche, Boisselle and Dube all had a goal and an assist in the win.
Other Scores
Blainville-Boisbriand (3) - Saint John (5)
Newfoundland (5) - Val-d'Or (2)
Drummondville (0) - Sherbrooke (4)
Victoriaville (5) - Quebec (3)
Charlottetown (7) - Rimouski (3)
Player of the Night
Ivan Ryabkin (CHA) - 1 goal, 3 assists
Tonight's Games
Cape Breton at Moncton - 6 PM EST
Blainville-Boisbriand at Halifax - 6 PM EST
Gatineau at Chicoutimi - 7 PM EST
Newfoundland at Rouyn-Noranda - 7 PM EST
Related
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