The Sags struggle to find a first win

BET À DAY

The Chicoutimi Saguenéens ended their opening weekend with a tough 6-2 loss to the Drummondville Voltigeurs on Sunday at Center Georges-Vézina.

“Again, we have to simplify things. At times, I felt a few of our tired little fellows. When your goalkeeper plays his first game, you have to help him, ”said Sags driver Yanick Jean.

The coaching staff has decided to reinstate Marc-Antoine Séguin, who was left out on Saturday against Baie-Comeau. It was Félix Bédard who suffered from this change. 

After long uneventful minutes in the first period, Maxim Massé scored his third goal in two days. Buzzing in the opposing crease, the one who was drafted third overall at the last auction lodged the puck behind the rival goalkeeper. Incidentally, it was the first time this season that the Sags played with the lead. 

That lead didn't last long in the middle frame. Defender Simon-Pier Brunet scored his first goal in the Courteau circuit by firing a laser from the blue line. 

Drummondville added 55 seconds later thanks to Simon Hughes. The latter made young goalkeeper Luciano Ruggiero look bad by scoring from an almost impossible angle in the corner of the rink. The visitors took advantage of a poor change from the Sags to widen their lead to 3-1. During a 3 against 0, Luke Woodworth was able to register on the score sheet without a problem. 

The Voltigeurs did not want to stop there. Mikael Diotte, Jérémy Lapointe and Tristan Roy all collected their first net of the campaign. Late in the game, Fabrice Fortin of Chicoutimi scored to make it 6-2. The native of Saint-Félicien, Saguenay, rounded the net to beat Riley Mercer. 

It's a fourth straight loss for Yanick Jean's men. 

A complicated first start for Ruggiero

The player to watch on the home side was rookie goaltender Luciano Ruggiero, who was playing his first career game in the QMJHL. Except for a difficult second period, he was valiant in front of the 30 shots received. 

The Sags will travel to Rimouski a little later in the week to face the Océanic on Friday, October 7 ( 7 p.m.