Russia edges QMJHL 3-2 for first win
Tuesday November 17, 2015
By Josh Sweetland/CHL
Rouyn-Noranda, QC – The QMJHL battled until the bitter end, but 31 saves from goaltender Alexander Trushkov paced Team Russia to its first win of the 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series in Game 5 in Rouyn-Noranda on Tuesday.
After scoring just once in two games against the OHL in games three and four, Sergei Boikov (Drummondville Voltigeurs), Andrey Svetlakov and Artur Lauta found the back of the net for Russia while Trushkov provided some timely saves to preserve the win.
- GAME 5 PHOTOS
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Team Russia reaped immediate returns from one of their latest additions to the lineup. Colorado Avalanche prospect Sergei Boikov blasted a slapshot past Team QMJHL goaltender Samuel Montembeault (Blainville-Boisbriand Armada) just 3:40 into action.
Russia extended the lead to two just a couple of shifts after Team QMJHL missed a gaping cage on a three-on-one rush. Svetlakov beat Montembeault on a long shot over the glove for his first of the series at 11:17, putting Russia in the driver’s seat midway through the first.
The QMJHL wrestled back the momentum to close out the first as the speedy line featuring Val-d’Or Foreurs teammates Anthony Richard and Julien Gauthier along with Shawinigan Cataractes captain Anthony Beauvillier broke the silence.
Richard picked off an errant pass through the neutral zone inside the final minute, finding Gauthier who gained the offensive blueline and flipped to the slot for a waiting Beauvillier who beat Trushkov with 30 seconds to go.
Russia led 2-1 after one despite being outshot 10-6.
After allowing two goals on six shots in the first, Montembeault came up big for his club in the early stages of the second. The Florida Panthers prospect stopped Artur Lauta and Arkhip Nekolenko on back-to-back chances, keeping the QMJHL within a goal.
Defenceman Olivier LeBlanc (Cape Breton Screaming Eagles) appeared to tie the score in a bizarre turn of events nearing the midway point of the second. LeBlanc dumped a puck in off the glass into the Russian zone as the disc took a funny carom, deflecting into the gaping Russian net as Trushkov had retreated behind his goal in an effort to play the puck. Upon further review however, the goal was overturned on an offside call against the QMJHL.
Team QMJHL bounced back though. Carolina Hurricanes prospect Nicolas Roy (Chicoutimi Sagueneens) finished off a nice powerplay passing sequence with Samuel Girard (Shawinigan Cataractes) and Nicolas Aube-Kubel (Val-d’Or Foreurs), beating Trushkov under the glove from the slot at 15:07.
Russia would take a 3-2 lead into the third however as Lauta buried his second of the CHL Canada Russia Series. The 19 year-old winger took a pass from Nekolenko to beat Montembeault over the glove on the short side off the rush with 2:13 left on the clock.
Despite some tired legs playing in the second of back-to-back nights, the Russians did an effective job of limiting the QMJHL attack in the third, holding them to just seven shots on goal.
A late QMJHL timeout called by head coach Dominique Ducharme (Halifax Mooseheads) inspired sustained pressure in the Russian zone in the game’s final minutes, but the steady presence of Trushkov paired with some key shot blocks kept Russia ahead for the eventual 3-2 win in front of 2,869 at Iamgold Arena.
Lauta and Svetlakov both finished the game with plus/minus ratings of plus-3 for the Russians who defeat the QMJHL in the 25th clash between the two sides in the history of the event.
Team QMJHL outshot Russia 33-20 in the loss, giving the CHL a 175-105 advantage in the shots on goal category throughout the series.
The CHL now leads the series 12-3 in points.
The 2015 CHL Canada Russia Series concludes on Thursday in Halifax as Team QMJHL looks to come up with a solution against their Russian opponents in Game 6.
Catch all of Thursday’s action live on Sportsnet 360 and TVA Sports at 7:00pm ET.
2015 CHL Canada Russia Series
Game 1 – Monday, November 9 at Kelowna, BC – WHL wins 7-3
WHL Player of the Game – Collin Shirley (1G, 3A)
Russia Player of the Game – Artur Lauta (1G)
Game Summary
Game 2 –Tuesday, November 10 at Kamloops, BC – WHL wins 4-2
WHL Player of the Game – Jayce Hawryluk (1G, 1A)
Russia Player of the Game – Maxim Tretiak (35 SV)
Game Summary
Game 3 – Thursday,November 12 at Owen Sound, ON – OHL wins 3-0
OHL Player of the Game – Mackenzie Blackwood (25 SV)
Russia Player of the Game – Kirill Pilipenko
Game Summary
Game 4 –Monday, November 16 at Windsor, ON – OHL wins 2-1
OHL Player of the Game – Mitch Marner (1A)
Russia Player of the Game – Alexander Trushkov (36 SV)
Game Summary
Game 5 – Tuesday, November 17 at Rouyn-Noranda, QC – Russia wins 3-2
QMJHL Player of the Game – Nicolas Roy (1G)
Russia Player of the Game – Daniil Vovchenko
Game Summary
Game 6 – Thursday, November 19 at Halifax, NS
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For news, roster information and ticket details, please visit canadarussia.chl.ca.