Rimouski Océanic hosted the Newfoundland Growlers in a QMJHL fixture on Friday evening, and the visitors took all three points with a 2:1 victory. The result shifts the balance in a league where every game matters, particularly for sides still solidifying their positioning. By then, the home side had been looking to build momentum after a mixed run of form.
Rimouski sit third on eight games played, five wins and three defeats providing a solid foundation. The Growlers sit sixth after five matches, three victories offset by two losses. Neither side has recorded a draw so far this season, which speaks to the competitive nature of the early campaign.
Recent results suggest both teams have been involved in open, attacking hockey. Rimouski's last five matches produced scores including 8:5 and 13:2, while the visitors have seen 6:3 and 6:0 victories alongside tighter 3:2 encounters. To be fair, the pattern of high-scoring games continues into this fixture.
We had backed the hosts at 43 per cent confidence, but the match took a different turn. Newfoundland's ability to found a way through when the pressure mounted proved decisive, particularly in the latter stages where Rimouski seemed to run out of ideas. The away side showed composure they had not always displayed earlier in the season.
The result leaves Rimouski three points clear of the Growlers in the standings, though the gap could close quickly with both teams still in the early stages of their campaigns. Newfoundland will take confidence from grounding out the win on the road, while Rimouski will be looking to respond at home.
