CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Twice the Charlottetown Islanders were down two goals and twice the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League club cut the edge to one goal against the Quebec Remparts.
But twice the Remparts held and earned a 5-2 win in Game 6 over the Isles on Monday in Quebec City. Game 7 of the best-of-seven first round series is Tuesday. Start time is 8 p.m. AT.
And after the game Isles head coach Jim Hulton was upbeat, despite the tough loss.
“I told them if any us back in training camp in August in Pownal and after we started 1-6-1 thought we’d be in a Game 7 to win a series I think we’d have all taken it,” said Hulton who doubles as general manager. “We played a good hockey game. I don’t think there was a turning point, sometimes there isn’t. Play is so tight. Those two empty-netters inflated the final score, but it was essentially a one-goal hockey game. I’m assuming (Tuesday) it will be more of the same.”
Down 2-0 early in the second frame on goals by Benjamin Gagne and Christian Huntley, former Remparts forward Derek Gentile cut it to 2-1 with about 12 minutes remaining in the frame.
That held and hope was there going into the third, but Pascal Laberge’s slap shot at 1:08 of the third beat Isles goalie Matthew Welsh and restored the two-goal edge at 3-1.
Still, the Isles fought back and Sam King’s shorthanded marker three minutes later shortened the gap to 3-2.
But that proved as near as the Isles could get as Olivier Garneau and Matthew Boucher scored empty net goals with Welsh on the bench for the extra attacker and made in a three-goal victory.
For Hulton the allure of a Game 7 speaks for itself so he plans no fiery speech to fire up the troops.
“We’re not a rah-rah group. They’re very professional and they’ve been very even keel all season and that will hold us in good stead for (Tuesday) night.”
It’s one of three Game 7s on Tuesday. Moncton and Rimouski play in Rimouski, and Sherbrooke and Rouyn-Noranda play in Rouyn.
Instant Replay
A look at Monday’s Quebec Major Junior Hockey League playoff game at Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Que.
The Outcome
Quebec 5 Charlottetown 2
The Goalscorers
Quebec - Benjamin Gagne (1), Christian Huntley (1) Pascal Laberge (2), Olivier Garneau (2), Matthew Boucher (3).
Charlottetown - Derek Gentile (2), Sam King (2).
The Assists
Quebec - Matthew Boucher 2 (3), Philipp Kurashev 2 (3), Matthew Grouchy 2 (6), Andrew Coxhead (2), Sam Dunn 2 (2), Etienne Verrette (1).
Charlottetown - Pierre-Olivier Joseph (2), Nikita Alexandrov (4), Cameron Askew (2).
The Goalies
Quebec - Antoine Samuel 34-of-36, win (3-3)
Charlottetown - Matthew Welsh 20-of-23, loss (3-3).
Next Up
The Islanders play Game 7 versus Quebec on Tuesday in Quebec City. Game time is 8 p.m. AT.
By The Numbers
Shots By Period
Quebec - 8-10-7, 25.
Charlottetown - 15-12-9, 36.
Penalty Minutes
Quebec - 12.
Charlottetown - 12.
Power Play
Quebec - 1-for-5, 20 per cent
Charlottetown - 1-for-5, 20 per cent.
Hits
Quebec - 16.
Charlottetown - 24.
Hit Posts
Quebec - 2.
Charlottetown - 2.
