Russia wins 2014 SUBWAY Super Series
Thursday November 20, 2014
By Josh Sweetland/CHL
Rimouski, QC – The QMJHL was knocking on the door, but time evaporated on a comeback effort that came up just short on Thursday night in Rimouski. A three goal deficit after two periods would prove to be too much as Russia took a 3-2 victory, winning the 2014 SUBWAY Super Series 11 points to 7.
“I thought our third period was really good,” said Team QMJHL captain Frédérik Gauthier following the loss. “Unfortunately we had a slow start and a rough second period and couldn’t come all the way back in the third. It was a real thrill to play in front of the Rimouski fans and represent the QMJHL.”
Igor Shesterkin stood tall in the Russian goal as Team QMJHL controlled the shooting column 13-5 in the third period, but Shesterkin had the answers to lead Russia to its third SUBWAY Super Series victory in the event’s 12 year history.
The QMJHL came out shooting in the first, sending traffic to the Russian goal to test goaltender Shesterkin early. The New York Rangers prospect proved worthy in the first frame, stopping all 12 of the shots he faced including quality chances off the stick of Anthony Beauvillier, Anthony Richard and Yan-Pavel Laplante.
With strong goaltending behind them, Russia took some time to get their offensive wheels turning, but in the blink of an eye their 1-0 lead was established. An observant play by a former Rimouski Océanic forward Vladimir Bryukvin found Ivan Fishchenko in the slot for a quick release that beat goaltender Philippe Desrosiers at 16:06. Forward Alexander Dergachev picked up his first point of the series with an assist on the goal.
Russia picked up the pace late in the period as Desrosiers provided some timely saves to keep the deficit at one heading to the second.
Bryukvin got onto the scoresheet a second time 4:12 into the second period, firing a knuckleball past the outstretched glove of Desrosiers after the QMJHL defence stepped up to try and intercept the Russian forward. Bryukvin’s attempted shot would deflect off a stick and flutter past Desrosiers who had anticipated a much harder release as Russia held a 2-0 lead.
After the QMJHL couldn’t convert on a mid-period powerplay, Russia’s Mikhail Tikhonov emerged from the penalty box to record an assist and help put his team up 3-0. Vyacheslav Leshchenko scored on a funny bounce, banking a puck off the skate of Desrosiers as it rolled inside the near post to give the Russians a three goal cushion at 9:33.
Like the third period on Tuesday, Team QMJHL managed just one shot in the second with a pair of powerplay chances. Russia led the shot clock 15-13 after two periods.
Desrosiers jumpstarted the QMJHL third period with a big save off Ilya Korenev alone in the slot on the powerplay. Desroisers’ QMJHL teammates would take over from there, getting on the board at 7:11 as defenceman Nicolas Meloche would finally solve Shesterkin. The Baie-Comeau Drakkar blueliner snapped a wrist shot through traffic that bounced off a Russian defender and through the legs of Shesterkin, giving the 2,528 at the Colisée de Rimouski something to cheer about.
After Anthony Richard nearly drew Team QMJHL to within a goal, Rimouski Océanic fan favourite Anthony DeLuca brought the crowd to its feet on a well orchestrated play with Francis Perron. Manning the point on the QMJHL powerplay, Perron fired a lot shot towards the Russian goal that was redirected enroute by the stick of DeLuca as the puck whistled over the shoulder of Shesterkin at 12:31.
In desperation mode, the QMJHL was throwing everything toward the Russian goal as Shesterkin was forced into a big save off Sherbrooke Phoenix forward Daniel Audette, getting the glove out to take away a goal.
Benoit Groulx would pull Desrosiers from the net inside the final minute of play, but the valiant QMJHL comeback fell short as it proved to be too little, too late on Thursday as the final buzzer sounded.
“This is a very big win for us,” said Russian forward Ivan Barbashev following the game. “I know that travel has been hard on the guys but we all found a way to pull through. I know that coach will be happy for us and that the country of Russia will be very proud.”
Team QMJHL outshot Russia 26-21 as Shesterkin provided Russia with several big saves to preserve the lead. He finishes the 2014 SUBWAY Super Series with a 1.58 goals against average, .940 save percentage and a record of 2-1-0.
The 2014 SUBWAY Super Series saw impressive offensive displays on both sides of the puck along with the usual intense physicality that accompanies Canada/Russia encounters. Both sides had excellent opportunities to see prospective talent ahead of the 2015 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships in Toronto and Montreal this December.
For all of your news, coverage and highlights of the 2014 SUBWAY Super Series, visit subwaysuperseries.ca.
