Dec 11 Montreal Juniors Forge Their Way Past Val D'Or Foreurs 3-2

After a convincing team victory this past Tuesday over the number one Shawinigan Cataractes, the Montreal Juniors were back at it with another home game against the last place Val D'Or Foreurs. While the Foreurs came to play and, infact scored the first goal, Montreal responded in kind gaining the lead in the 1st p eriod and never looked back during this closely played contest.

Val D'Or would draw first blood taking advantage of a power-play opportunity at 4:50 of the first period when Christian Morin's shot from the point deflected off of a sprawling Taylor MacDougall, who tried to block the shot. Despite Montreal being shorthanded for half the period, they left the ice after one with a 2-1 lead thanks to goals by Nick Layton and Matt Fillier. Layton, his 11th of the season at even strength and Fillier's 8th was scored on a 4 on 3 situation with only 28 seconds left in the period. Centre Luke Adam, expected to step up with the absence of Angelo Esposito, assisted on both goals, including w great pass from behind the net to feed Nick Layton. Jean-François Bérubé, replacing Jake Allen in nets faced 16 shots in the period.

Montreal would add a third goal at 8:00 of the second courtesy of a nifty one-timer by Taylor MacDougall as he crashed the net waiting for Alex wall's pass. Val D'Or's netminder,Raffaele D'Orso, had no chance on the play. The Foreurs would get one back with Luke Adam in the box for tripping, but the main reason the period would end 3-2 was D'Orso who stopped a barrage of shots in the late stages of the period when Montreal maintained steady pressure down low, cycling the puck and getting quality chances, but with no happy ending. Montreal's Jean-François Bérubé was also called upon to make some key saves, especially after Val D'Or's goal which breathed some life into the team.

Montreal would play the third confidently and despite not scoring on their 2 opportunities on the power-play, they managed to thwart any attempts Val D'Or would generate on their chances. Absent was the impression most Juniors' fans got earlier on in the season that Montreal was nervous with a slim lead. They played well and did not try to protect the lead, instead opting to add to it when they could. Credit Jean-François Bérubé with the win as he was called upon often in the third to make several difficult saves while his team was shorthanded. 

The Juniors' next contest has them heading out to Chicoutimi to meet the Saguenéens on Sunday in an afternoon match. They then head back home to Verdun where they will play host to Rimouski on Thursday and then head right back out on the road to Gatineau the very next day before they break for the Christmas Holidays.

photo by Amanda Stein

Tags: Jean-Francois Berube \ LHJMQ \ Luke Adam \ Montreal juniors \ QMJHL \ Taylor MacDougall