A missed penalty shot for James Malatesta with a little over a minute to go, a controversial goal from Vsevolod Komarov a few seconds later and a head coach of the Shawinigan Cataractes, Daniel Renaud, who throws a holy anger afterwards : the first game of the semi-final series between the Remparts and the Cataractes was colorful last night.
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The Remparts emerged victorious 3 to 2 from this first confrontation thanks to the goal of Komarov, scored with 53.4 s to go in the third period.
But that net from the Russian defender caused quite a stir. In a rage, Renaud blasted official Nicolas Leduc, before taking a player’s stick and slamming into the bay window behind him, earning him a bench penalty.
A gesture that the head coach hastened to condemn during his meeting with the media.
“I look like the biggest loser right now because I’ve been unable to control my emotions. In a situation where I’ve been asking my players since day one to stay in control, I prevented my team tonight from tying the score by playing six against five. Obviously, I’m not proud of the way I behaved behind the bench tonight. »
CONTROVERSIAL
The fact remains that the coach had a hard time understanding the official’s decision. The controversy comes mainly from the fact that, a few seconds before Komarov scored, the puck was under goalkeeper Antoine Coulombe. Was she immobilized or not?
“There’s a guy clearly pushing our goalie’s pad. I just watched it ten more times,” he lamented, adding that the official told him he was about to whistle. It’s written in the rules that if the referee intends to whistle, it doesn’t matter what happens next. [le jeu ne compte pas]. I am unable to explain to myself what just happened in the last minute. »
Cataracts forward Pierrick Dubé also added his two cents, claiming that the officials had winked at the Shawinigan players after the game.
“They are not junior referees for nothing,” he added.
Asked about it, neither Antoine Coulombe, nor Olivier Nadeau, nor Daniel Renaud had witnessed these gestures.
HAPPY KOMAROV
In the opposing camp, controversy seemed the least of Komarov’s worries.
“It’s a very good feeling. It’s my first goal in the playoffs and we won,” he said in greatly improved English.
For his part, Patrick Roy threw out the back of his hand the invitation to join the discussion, whether the goal was good or not.
“The game that Komarov made, it’s incredible; it takes hands, to bring it back around the keeper’s pad like he did. The play he made in the corner to beat their player, cut inside, it takes skill. The referee was super well placed, the puck was free in front, he brought it aside. »
According to him, therefore, no doubt: the goal was good.
” Yes. It’s clear. I’ve seen worse than that in the NHL, which have been granted. No doubt in my mind that he was going to be good. It was the right decision that was called. »
With all that, we almost forgot to say that Mikaël Huchette and Louis
Crevier scored the other goals for the Remparts, while the reply came from Martin Has and Olivier Nadeau.
By the way, 8332 spectators attended yesterday’s game.
“She was there tonight and that’s what we need,” Roy said. We need them to come cheer on their team. It’s going to be a great series and it’s good for junior hockey. »