QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Losing a two goal lead twice in the game Team WHL watched as Team Russia scored four unanswered goals in the third period leading to a 7-5 victory in game six of the Subway Super Series.
The line of Mark McNeil (2g-1a), Ryan Stone (1g-1a) and Michael Ferland (0g-1a) ended the game totaling 6 points for Team WHL, the line of Nikita Kucherov (2g-1a) centering Vladislav Kartaev (2g-0a) and Nikita Gusev (1g-2a) played key role for Team Russia in combining for 8 points.
Team Russia had a much better outing in the opening period in Moose Jaw, breaking the ice first. With his first shot stopped by Team WHL netminder Calvin Pickard, Valerie Knyazev had the best view of his teammate, Karteev pushing the puck in at 2:18 of the first period.
Unable to get a shot on Team Russia goaltender Sergey Makarov following a breakaway referee awarded Quinton Howden a penalty shot. The Moose Jaw left winger didn’t miss and put Team WHL on the scoreboard 3:39 later.
Team Russia regained the lead thanks to a turnover in Team WHL zone. Forced to make the first move on Damill Apalkov missing shot but great eye-hand coordination by Kuchenko gave him the opportunity to sneak in to get Team Russia second goal at 18:49.
But Team WHL wasted no time tying the game at two 10 seconds later when Yen NcNeil put the puck right on Mark Stone stick who got Team WHL tying goal.
Team WHL began the second period strong. The line of Mark McNeil (2 goals in second periods), Michael Ferland and Mark Stone played solid hockey for Team WHL. The first round pick of the Chicago Black Hawks in 2011 get Team WHL third goal 9 second into the period, Ferland got the only assist.
The first round pick of the Chicago Black Hawks in 2011 and Prince Albert Raiders center scores his second of the night giving Team WHL 4-2 lead 5:30 into the middle frame.
Circling in the corner with the puck Weal spotted Stone who making great pass to McNeil who get Team WHL on board for fourth times in the game at 5:30.
Refusing to give up, the combination of Efim Gurkin and Gusev worked together leading to Team Russia’s third goal, the second of the game scored by Kartaev 2:21 later.
A penalty to Grigory Zheldakov proved to be costly for Team Russia seeing their opponent regaining a two goal lead. Assists by Jordan Weal, the Brandon Wheat Kings defenseman Ryan Pulock’s shot from the blue line didn’t give the Russian netminder any chance to stop the puck at 16:54.
Trailing by two goals, 5-3, entering the third period, Team Russia dominated the period with four unanswered goals. The combination of Kucherov and Gusev scored the first two goals in span of 24 seconds cutting Team WHL lead in half with Gusev’s third goal of the series at 2:16.
Kucherov came right back 24 seconds later with the first of two goals in the period tying the score 5-5.
Damill Apalkov got the distinction of scoring what became the game winning goal for Team Russia taking a loose puck in Team WHL goaltender’s crease chipping the puck in for Russian sixth goal of the game at 9:55.
Kucherov finished the job putting the last nail in Team WHL coffin with his second goal of the third period sealing Team Russia victory in last Subway Super Series game.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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