February 9, 2012 - For the first time in 29 days, the Gatineau Olympiques (21-24-8) signed a second consecutive win, Thursday evening. During a game played at the Robert-Guertin Center, the Olympiques triumphed by the score of 6 to 5 against the Screaming Eagles of Cape-Breton (2O-3O-2).

Yes, it was time that the Olympiques lined up the victories. For a team which seeks to ensure its participation in the playoffs - and which battled for the first position of the Telus-West division just a few weeks ago, Benoit Groulx’s protégés could not allow another bad performance, especially after having won their last game. By winning against Ron Choules’ team, the locals won a second consecutive game for the first time since…. December 9^th! They had won against these same Screaming Eagles (5-2), before holding the same fate for Huskies of Rouyn-Noranda (3-2) a few hours later.

Lafontaine puts an end to the impasse

Whereas he had been in a deep lethargy for several weeks already; Raphaël Lafontaine managed to come out of the shade, following a production of two fast goals in the second period. First of all, he had the best of Philippe Trudeau with a precise wrist shot, a few minutes before seizing a free puck in front of the net and scoring the third goal for his team. Raphaël also obtained the second star of the evening. Let us guarantee that this beautiful evening of work will remove a little pressure on his shoulders.

Other then Lafontaine, Alex Zafiris and Jacob Conrad, once more, achieved a good job in the offensive zone. Let’s remember that during last Saturday’s game against the Foreurs of Val d’Or, Alex had registered his first hat trick in career in the Q, while Jacob had piled up three assists. Against the Screaming Eagles, Zafiris obtained two assists, whereas Conrad found the bottom of the net once. Useless to say that when your support players’ produce as much offensively, it always puts a smile on a coach’s face.

The Olympiques pay the price

If Gatineau had been able to stop the power play of their enemy on Saturday evening, it was all the opposite against Ron Choules’ troop. Indeed, the Screaming Eagles scored three of their five goals on a power play (3 in 5). During the game that ended with only 1 goal of difference, these penalties could have been very expensive. The locals played with fire… without burning themselves, however.

In revenge, Gatineau avoided the worst by scoring twice with the advantage of one man (2 in 4).

Summary of the game

Even if the visitors shot only five times towards François Lacerte during the first period, the Screaming Eagles benefitted from it by leaving to their dressing room with a 2 to1 lead. The Olympiques were the first to light up the red light, when Jacob Conrad (Régimbald & Zafiris) seized a return to launch the puck behind the goalie Philippe Trudeau. Cape-Breton then benefitted from their power play twice rather than once, by goals from William Carrier.

By obtaining a multitude of occasions to capitalize, Gatineau finally had the Screaming Eagles in the second period. Initially, Raphaël Lafontaine scored his eighth and ninth goal of the season, which made it possible for his team to come back in the game and even take the lead. A few minutes later, Cole Murphy (Corriveau & Beaton) scored and tied the game once again. Shy up to now, the Olympiques power play allowed them to take the lead again in a controversial way, thanks to a second effort from Rock Régimbald (MacDonald & Hyka). Furious that the officials granted this goal - Trudeau believed being in possession of the puck, the visitors thus decided to cause a little trouble between the nine players on the ice. Nothing major however. A few minutes later, Garret Clarke (Chapman & Hyka), following a beautiful individual play, scored the fifth goal for his team.

In the third period, the Screaming Eagles never gave up. Worse, their combativeness gave sweats to the Gatineau players. The Olympiques however were able to close the books, and signed their 21st victory this season. To start with, while his team was playing on a power play, William Carrier (Clarke & Lavoie) scored his hat trick, thus reducing the lead again. Less than three minutes later, always with a man in advantage, Emile Poirier (Cortese & Chapman) managed to sign the death certificate of their opponents, allowing at the same time their team to take again a two goal lead. A little later, in a losing cause, Alexandre Lavoie made it possible for Cape-Breton to score a fifth goal.

In the victory, François Lacerte pushed back 11 shots. At the other end, Philippe Trudeau stopped 26 of them.

Three brawls burst during the 60 minutes of play. Adam Chapman dropped his gloves against Dany Potvin, Mathieu Boily knock out Felix Jarry and Samuel Courtemanche faced Raphaël Corriveau.

The Olympiques will dispute their next game Saturday evening, at the Marcel-Dionne Center in order to face the Voltigeurs of Drummondville.

Less than 24 hours later, they will receive the visit of the Wildcats of Moncton, at the Robert-Guertin Center. The puck will drop at 4h00pm.

Simon Bédard, Gatineau Olympiques