Team Savard came away with its second victory in as many days at the 2024 QMJHL Cup thanks to a 9-4 win over Team Marchand on Friday afternoon at the Centre d’excellence Sports Rousseau.
Team Savard’s offense was propelled by Thomas Rousseau’s hat trick, as well as a one-goal, three-assist performance from forwards Charles-Albert Pouliot and Romain Litalien. For Team Marchand, Jaxon Somers found the back of the net twice, while teammate Jacob Hartlin picked up a goal and an assist.
Between the pipes, goaltender Patrick Deniger made just 14 saves in the winning effort, while Zach Clinton faced 44 shots in the loss.
Declan MacLauchlan opened the scoring for Team Marchand after 12:38 of play in the first period. Team Savard replied immediately with Romain Litalien’s goal, scored just 11 seconds later. Pouliot then scored his first of the tournament to make it 2-1, but this time it was Team Marchand who quickly replied when Somers made it 2-2 just 30 seconds later. Then, with just three seconds left in the opening frame, Alain Boudreau’s shot beat Clinton to send Team Savard back to the locker room with a one-goal lead.
In the second period, Somers found the back of the net for his second goal, scored unassisted, to tie the game for the second time. At 12:25 of the same period, Team Savard took advantage of a power play opportunity before seeing Samuel Roy give his team a new hope by making it 4-3. Three minutes later, Jacob Hartlin beat Deniger to score what was his team’s fourth goal, forcing a tie for the second straight intermission.
The third period belonged entirely to Team Savard. Not only did it dominate 18-3 in the shot on goal department, it also found the back of the net five times. The goals came from the sticks of Dylan Laframboise, Nathan Birch and Rousseau, who scored a natural hat trick in just under five minutes.
Team Marchand will be looking for their first win tomorrow when they take on Team Dobson at noon ET. As for Team Savard, it will be looking to remain unbeaten when it takes on Team Brière at 5:45pm ET.
