QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Winner of two games against Team QMJHL in the CHL Subway Super Series, Team Russia suffered the same fate in losing game two on Monday night in Sault St-Marie Ontario. Greg Mckegg, Tanner Pearson and Ryan Spooner with 1 goal and 2 assists combined to lead Team OHL to the sweep.
Team OHL took up where they left off in game three converting almost every scoring opportunity into goals in the opening period.
Ending with three goals on five power plays opportunities in game three, in a 10-7 win, Team OHL scored three goals on three Team Russia penalties in game four taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the first 5:47.
Team OHL returned to their locker room leading 5-0 after first twenty minutes.
Being sent to penalty box for slashing Russian defenseman Grigory Zheldakov had a perfect view on Team OHL first goal. Stationed at Russian goalie doorstep Tanner Pearson took a rebound from Ryan Sproul 3:59 into first period.
Continuing to put pressure on their defensemen Team Russia took a second penalty for a hit to the head Mikhail Nomenkov. In an almost identical play, Mitchell Head only had to push the puck behind netminder Pavel Shushkov at 5:20.
Team OHL came back with their third goal with a man advantage 27 seconds later with goal from Boston Bruin prospect who usually wearing Kingston Frontnacs jersey in the OHL. Spooner’s one-timer didn’t give any chance to Russian goalie at 5:47.
Trailing by three seeing Team Russia head coach Vitaly Bragin decided to pull his starting netminder Shuskov who gave up three goals on seven shots in 5:47 minutes.
Team OHL added two more goals before the end of first period. Greg McKegg welcomed Sergey Kostenko with Team OHL’s fourth goal at 10:47. Michael Sgarbossa scored Team OHL fifth goal 14 seconds later.
Christian Thomas made the score 6-0 4:40 into second period. Staying on the ice longer than what they did in first half of the game team OHL saw their opponent trying to make a comeback in the game.
The Russian combination of Nikita Kucherov and Gusev began to work, making typical Russian moves leading to Russia’s first goal. Taking his shot inside the blue line, Russian defenseman Victor Antipin was credited with the goal.
After further review, the puck hit OHL defenseman Jamie Oleksiak glove, before deflecting behind J.P. Anderson at 10:55. Anderson came into the game replacing OHL starting netminder Scott Wedgewood who stopped all Russian 12 shots on goal.
Nikita Kucherov 11:20 and Damill Apalkov with 33 seconds remaining to the second period complete Team Russia scoring for the night. Neither team scored in the third.
The last two games in the CHL Subway Super Series will be against Team WHL where Team Russia will travel to Regina on November 16 and on November 17 both teams will face off in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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