Russia steals 3-2 shootout win in Sudbury
Ivan Nalimov was spectacular in goal making 50 saves in regulation then stood tall in the shootout backstopping Team Russia to a 3-2 win over Team OHL in Game 4 of the SUBWAY Super Series Monday night in Sudbury before a crowd of 4,886.
Nalimov, who was named Player of the Game again on Monday, stopped a total of 91 shots in two games in Ontario to help the Russians emerge from the middle leg of the SUBWAY Super Series with two wins for the first time in history.
The Russians skated to an early 2-0 lead with goals from Ildar Shiksatdarov at 4:39, and Sergei Kuptsov at 6:53 of the first period.
Team OHL came out flying in the second period led by London Knights’ sniper Max Domi who earned a penalty shot just eight seconds into the middle frame. The Phoenix Coyotes first round pick could not beat Nalimov but it set the stage for a pair of OHL goals just moments later.
The Knights’ Bo Horvat finally put one past the Russian netminder cutting the lead to 2-1 with a sharp angle shot at 1:01 of the period.
The OHL kept their momentum and were rewarded with the equalizer when Niagara IceDogs’ forward Carter Verhaeghe tapped in a pass off the rush from hometown Sudbury Wolves’ forward Nicholas Baptiste at 2:55.
Neither team capitalized on their chances in the remainder of the second period or in the third forcing a five-player shootout to break the tie.
The teams traded goals with Vladimir Tkachyov scoring for Russia and Connor Brown of the Erie Otters scoring for Team OHL to force sudden victory.
Nikolai Skladnichenko buried his shootout attempt five-hole past Team OHL goaltender Jake Paterson of the Saginaw Spirit in the eighth round of the shootout to clinch the victory.
The OHL outshot Russia 52-23 with Paterson making 21 saves.
Aaron Ekblad of the Barrie Colts was named Team OHL Player of the Game.
The shootout win gives Russia two points in the standings with Team OHL earning a single point in the loss. The OHL’s all-time record against Russia falls to 19-2-1.
The CHL leads Russia 7-5 in points through four games of the 2013 SUBWAY Super Series.
The series now shifts west where the WHL will face Russia for a pair of games beginning Wednesday night in Red Deer.
2013 SUBWAY Super Series schedule (7pm local start times):
Game 1 – Monday, November 18, at Gatineau, QC (QMJHL wins 3-2) – Game Summary
Game 2 – Wednesday, November 20, at Sherbrooke, QC (QMJHL wins 4-3) – Game Summary
Game 3 – Thursday, November 21, at Oshawa, ON (RUS wins 5-2) – Game Summary
Game 4 – Monday, November 25, at Sudbury, ON (RUS wins 3-2 SO) – Game Summary
Game 5 – Wednesday, November 27, at Red Deer, AB
(Sportsnet East, Ontario, West, and Pacific)
Game 6 – Thursday, November 28, at Lethbridge, AB
(Sportsnet ONE, and Sportsnet 590 and 960 The FAN)
For information about rosters and tickets please visit www.subwaysuperseries.ca.