Faceoff Factor

Angelo Esposito Returns To Quebec in QMJHL Game Of The Week

Jesse Marshall | Juniors

Sep 29, 05:24 PM | Hype this story!

Welcome to the rundown of the first ever Faceoff–Factor QMJHL Game of the Week.

A packed crowd was on hand to see Angelo Esposito’s return to the QMJHL. Let’s waste no time and get right to the good stuff.

Esposito started the game alongside rookie Mikhail Stefanovich and Capitals prospect Maxime Lacroix. Stefanovich comes to Quebec by way of Minsk, Belarus and was taken in the first round of this year’s CHL Import draft at #54 overall. Lacroix is a Washington Capitals prospect that was drafted in Round 5 (127 overall) in 2006.

The Goaltender for the Remparts was Keven Desfosses. He came into last nights game riding a 2 game shutout streak.

It was a big match up last night of two high-powered first lines. Esposito’s line was dueling with Blackhawks prospect Maxime Tanguay. It was quite the sight watching those two line up to take the draw against each other. Tanguay was playing with deadly Canadiens prospect Olivier Fortier, so the onus was on Pierre Bergeron, Quebec’s star defenseman, to stop them from getting puck in the net.

From the onset it was apparent how deadly Espo’s line was. Stefanovich is a big boy, but his vision is superb and he has soft hands. He lacks a phyiscal edge and if he utilized his frame a little more he’d really have a complete game. Currently, he isn’t ranked in the top 30 for the ISS, but I guarantee he’ll be ending the season in the top 20. This is a naturally talented winger that is going to earn praise all year for the way he sees the ice. Much more of a set-up man than he is a goal-scorer, but he’ll make a killing playing alongside these two. Lacroix is another story altogether. He’s become very explosive. His speed is deceiving and he has several gears. When he kicks it into high, look out. He’s got the touch of a goal-scorer and adds a dangerous element to this line.

Espo was flying right from the get-go. He seemed to show no ill effects of the groin injury he suffered earlier this year. Early on in the first, Stefanovich sprung him on a breakaway. Espo read the play very well and was coming through the neutral zone like a freight train. The goaltender flopped to the near side and saved Espo’s backhander chance. That was one of three breakaways Espo had last night, he was unable to capitalize on any of them, but with Stefanovich feeding him these passes, he’ll have plenty more chances.

Rimouski scored early. 2007/08 draft eligible forward Patrice Cormier, currently ranked #16 by the ISS, opened the scoring when he deflected an Alexandre Neron shot from the far point into the net. Good presence of mind by Cormier to get a stick on the puck and he certainly had himself in good scoring position. Desfosses shutout streak ended as Quebec was really disorganized in the beginnings of this game.

I expected to see a bit more from Cormier last night and I have to say I was a bit dissapointed. As a center, he needs to involve himself a bit more in what’s going on in the neutral zone. During the PK, Cormier was rubbed out on the boards and seemed hesitant and indecisive with the puck all night. I’ll be watching Rimouski all year, so let’s hope he can turn it on a bit.

Espo played well defensivley all night, but particularly in the first period when Quebec was having a rough go of it. He seems much more alert in his own end than he did last year. He didn’t take a shift off and pursued the puck vehemently in his own end. Good for him, that’s a change of attitude from last year.

Quebec got things together as Rimouski started to get into penalty trouble early. Esposito and Lacroix had a two on one, but Espo was behind the play because he had to hold himself onside. Lacroix threw the puck at the net and Espo stuck his stick out trying to deflect it, but it flopped off the blade and went wide of the net.

The best penalty killer and perhaps the best player on the ice for the Oceanic last night was one of Faceoff Factor’s favorite 2006/07 drafted players. I harped and harped about Maxime Gratchev’s tenacity last spring and the Islanders really got a steal with him in the 4th round. Gratchev never let up on the puck. He was causing havoc for the Rempart’s power-play and, for someone of his smaller stature, he wasn’t afraid to train rail a few guys into the boards. Kudos to Gratchev, he was making things happen.

Espo got himself on the board early when Quebec had a 20 second shooting gallery in the Rimouski end. Goaltender Tommy Perrault had gotten luck early on, Quebec had a goal disallowed and Lacroix had just had a breakaway (another awesome pass by Stefanovich) which Perrault was able to save. This time, he had himself surrounded by red and beige shirts.

After several shots on net, defenseman Pierre Bergeron put an Esposito feed behind Perrault. Stefanovich got an assist as well.

Quebec scored again minutes later when 2007/08 draft eligible center Kelsey Tessier (ISS #13) got his first goal of the season after defenseman Keven Dupont of Rimouski turned the puck over in front. Tessier pounced on it and unleashed a wicked wrister that beat Perrault on the glove side. Tessier had a good game. He seems to play with a lot of sense about him. He’ll be a good two-way center if he can keep this up. He plays with his heart on his sleeve and really impressed me last night. He finished with two points (1+1) on the night.

Things started to fall apart for Rimouski after that. Perrault got softer as the game went on and Quebec made them pay. It was 6-2 heading into the third and Angelo warmed up the new goalie rather quickly.

Espo got his first goal of the year in a rather bizzare fashion two minutes into the third. The puck was bouncing around in front when Espo swatted it baseball-style out of mid-air and past new goaltender Ben McFarlane. Lacroix and Stefanovich got the assists.
It was Espo’s only goal of the night, but he could have easily had three others. Things went well for him all night long.

Quebec went on to win the game 8-5.

Esposito looked great. Every time his line stepped on the ice something was happening. Lacroix looks strong and Stefanovich is quickly becoming on of my favorites for this year’s draft class. What a specimen! This kid towers over the rest of the people on the ice yet plays a very smart, calm and crisp game.

On a side note, coach Patrick Roy had Espo lined up on the RW for the power-play last night. Quebec quarterbacks their power-play from the left wing with very active defensemen moving around the points. Esposito posted up shop in front of the net and caused some real havoc for the defense. He never really had a chance to bang any home in front, but I liked what I saw from him posting up in front of the goal last night.

Who’s hot/not:

Hot:

Maxim Lacroix and the rest of the Quebec first line – Lacroix finished with 3 points (2+1), Mikhail Stefanovich finished with 3 points (0+3) and Angelo finished with 2 (1+1).

Maxime Gratchev – Despite being a –2, this was Rimouski’s best player.

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault – Quebec forward had a goal disallowed in the first and played well all night on the power-play. Finished with 2 assists.

Not:

Maxime Tanguay/Olivier Fortier – The first line was shut down by Pierre Bergeron and the Quebec defense.

Goaltenders: None of the three that played in this game impressed me any. Desfosses was strong early but got lazy as the game went on.

The Quebec Mascot: What the hell is that thing?

Stay tuned for next week’s QMJHL Game of the Week. Also keep your eyes peeled as we watch Keven Villieux and the Victoriaville Tigres play later tonight.