2023-05-03 01:51:57
GATINEAU | Patrick Roy said following game no. 2: “we are not perfect but I can say that we are in terms of resilience”. On Tuesday, the Remparts proved it once more.
Up 3-1 in the second, the Remparts allowed the Gatineau Olympiques to get back into the game and even take a 4-3 lead midway through the third period. As they have often done this season, they didn’t give up and Zachary Bolduc scored an important goal with four minutes to go to force overtime. James Malatesta, with his second of the match, put an end to the debate and allowed the Red Devils to not only save themselves with a 5-4 victory but above all to take a 3-0 lead in the semi-final series.
“We were the same all year, recalled Patrick Roy. These are situations that do not change at the last minute. This is not a switch on et off. All winter, we were resilient, we never looked for excuses and we always fought. Even though they took a 4-3 lead, I didn’t feel we were in a panic. At one point I wondered if I was taking a time out or not but I didn’t feel the bench excited. I felt they were confident that they would score a goal. »
“It’s our character. We are a mature group and we really want to win,” said Malatesta.
Solid Rousseau
The Remparts certainly owe a debt of gratitude to their goaltender William Rousseau who, in the third, when the Olympiques increased the pressure, frustrated the Gatineau forwards on numerous occasions. He finished the game with 36 saves.
“He was incredible. In third, we dropped several covers, we’ll be honest. Will made the important saves and kept us in the game. There are things that we must continue to improve and that we will continue to improve,” summed up Patrick Roy.
Moreover, this performance by the 19-year-old goalkeeper was timely since the Remparts evolved without their defensive pillar, Nicolas Savoie, who suffered an injury in the second period of match no. 2.
“Nico is a big piece. He blocks shots, does a good job in front of the net. It hurts but the guys were able to raise their level of play,” said Rousseau.
Moreover, the 5000 supporters at the Slush Puppie center tried on a few occasions to disturb him by chanting his name during the match.
“It’s rare that I hear them but today, I’m not going to hide that I heard them. They did a good job but I’m a keeper who likes pressure. I love it and use it as motivation. »
keep believing
For his part, Louis Robitaille was not looking from noon to two o’clock to explain what was missing at the Olympics on Tuesday.
“That goal was missing. That goal was missing, ”he repeated.
The defeat was still bitter in the Gatineau camp, but Robitaille wanted to make sure of one thing: the Olympiques will not give themselves up in game no. 4 of Wednesday.
” We are here. We’re going to come out strong tomorrow. I believe in this group. If any group can come back up, it’s us. But I won’t start talking regarding the four wins. It’s going to be one at a time.
“I can’t be mad at them because the intentions were good. They never gave up. The line is thin but if we keep doing this, it will pay off. Playoffs are all regarding momentum. They believe in it. If we are going to win the game tomorrow, we will put the pressure on them. It will be one game at a time. In the World Championships, you have to win the quarter-final, then the semi-final, then you go to the final. That’s how we’re going to approach it, one at a time. »
Moreover, following being a doubtful case for Tuesday’s game, Justin Robidas took part in the game for the Remparts.
“Very good,” he simply replied when a colleague asked him how he felt on the ice.
1683082913
#Remparts #game #final
