Gabriel Girard and the Shawinigan Cataractes stepped up in a crucial divisional matchup on Wednesday.
Girard made 22 saves as Shawinigan rocked the Victoriaville Tigres 6-0 to add to their lead in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s East Division and move into first overall.
The win gives the Cataractes a six-point lead over Victoriaville in the standings, 72-66.
Both teams had won eight of their last 10 games headed into the matchup.
The Saint John Sea Dogs are second in the league’s overall standings and first in the Maritimes Division with 70 points.
Elsewhere in the QMJHL it was: Acadie-Bathurst 6 Blainville-Boisbirand 5.
At Shawinigan, Que., Peter Sakaris scored on a penalty shot for the Cataractes (34-11-4), while Pierre-Olivier Morin had a pair of goals. Yannick Veilleux, Anton Zlobin and Loik Poudrier also chipped in.
Brandon Whitney started in net for Victoriaville (32-16-2), stopping 31-of-36 shots. He was replaced after Morin’s second goal by David Honzik, who made five saves on six shots.
Titan 6 Armada 5
At Bathurst, N.B., Adam Stevens’ goal midway through the third period stood as the winner as the Titan (24-20-5) held off a three-goal rally by Blainville-Boisbriand (25-19-3).
