Rimouski Océanic claimed a 3:2 victory over Quebec Remparts in QMJHL action on Thursday night. The away side took all three points despite sitting seventh in the standings with zero games recorded. It was the second meeting between these clubs this month, and this time the visitors came out on top.
Quebec had been struggling recently, having lost three of their four matches this season. Their last outing against Rimouski on August 22nd ended 1:4 in favour of the visitors. They also dropped a close 4:5 contest against Blainville-Boisbriand the previous day. By then the hosts were already finding it hard to string results together.
Rimouski arrived with momentum after consecutive wins against Chicoutimi and Quebec. Not that form carries weight in a league where the table shows no games played yet. And here's the thing — both teams occupy the bottom half of the standings with minimal games under their belts. The gap between seventh and sixth is negligible at this stage.
What the match did show was a competitive affair between local rivals. Quebec had beaten Rimouski 5:3 back in February, so there was history to settle. The visitors turned to their recent confidence and managed to find the net three times. The hosts responded but fell short when it mattered.
The result leaves Quebec in sixth place with one win from four games. Rimouski sits seventh but with zero games registered, the positions mean little beyond geography. Both sides still have plenty of room to move once the season proper kicks in.