2019 Esso Cup

AS RIDE SPECIAL TEAMS TO WIN OVER STARS

QUINTON AMUNDSON

SUDBURY, Ont. – Anne-Sophie Bédard produced three goals and an assist, and Jade Picard registered one goal and two helpers to lead the As de Québec to a big 7-3 win over the Saskatoon Stars on Monday at the 2019 Esso Cup.

Both teams own a 1-1 record after two games.

Chorinne Koesters and Béatrice Bilodeau also scored for Québec, which went a scintillating 4-for-8 on the power play and got 41 saves from Sophie Sabourin. Grace Shirley, Joelle Fiala and Halle Helperl netted the goals for Saskatoon.

Bédard kickstarted the scoring derby just eight minutes in with a power-play goal. She beat a screened Arden Kliewer by deflecting a point shot from Picard.

Kliewer was beaten again from the blue-line just under five minutes later as Tremblay slipped the puck past a maze of bodies in front of the net.

The Stars generated some late-period momentum, but they couldn’t solve Sabourin despite outshooting Quebec 14-7 in the first 20 minutes.

It only took the Stars 43 seconds of the second to erase the two-goal hole. Shirley beat Sabourin 20 seconds in, and Fiala scored 23 seconds later.

Québec, though, responded with four unanswered goals.

Bédard scored her second power-play marker at 2:38 to restore the As’ lead and chase Kliewer, who gave way to Kaitlyn Cadrain.

Koesters potted Quebec’s second power-play goal of the period, and third of the game, at 7:59, Picard added a man-advantage goal at 9:39 and Bilodeau converted at four-on-four just 71 seconds later to send the As to the intermission with a 6-2 lead despite being outshot 30-18.

Bédard connected for the hat trick just under six minutes into the final period with a wrist shot that sailed over Cadrain’s shoulder.

Helprel made the score 7-3 with under five minutes to go.

The As will try for their second win Tuesday afternoon against the Halifax Fire (12 p.m. ET), while the Stars will look for a bounce-back effort, and a measure of revenge for last year’s Esso Cup final, when they duel the St. Albert Slash (3:30 p.m. ET).