Russia edges WHL 3-2 in Red Deer
Ivan Nalimov’s string of impressive performances continued as he made 42 saves to backstop Russia to a 3-2 victory over Team WHL in Game 5 of the 2013 SUBWAY Super Series on Wednesday night before a crowd of 6,057 at the Enmax Centrium in Red Deer, AB.
Nalimov, who kicked aside 91 shots over two Russian wins versus Team OHL, was particularly strong in the third period, making 17 stops, including several solid efforts late in the game with Team WHL pressing. The 19-year-old netminder was named Player of the Game for Russia, a well-earned honor.
“(Nalimov) played extremely well for them tonight,” said Team WHL head coach Brent Sutter. “We had a lot of chances, and he made some big time saves…he’s been very good in every game he’s played in this series, and he won the two games out in the OHL for them too.
“We had some soft plays around our net that we can’t let happen,” he said.
Alexei Baskov gave the Russians a 3-2 lead early in the third frame, scoring on a wraparound after being allowed to walk right out from behind the net. The goal was enough to propel the Russians to the win and give them a 3-2 lead in the six-game series.
Igor Redenkov and Alexander Barabanov also scored for Russia, while Taylor Leier – with a goal and an assist – and Griffin Reinhart had the markers for Team WHL. Leier, who plays for the Portland Wintterhawks, was named Player of the Game for Team WHL after having a strong game in a losing cause.
“I thought I played well at both ends of the ice, and I had my feet moving, so that’s all I can really ask of myself,” said Leier. “Their goalie really was the reason they won that game tonight…he made some unbelievable saves and came up big when we were pressing.
Eric Comrie turned aside 22 of 25 shots for Team WHL. The 18-year-old may have been the victim of a couple tough plays, but Comrie enjoyed a strong outing overall.
“It’s a tough loss to take, and I felt I should have had all three of those goals,” said the Tri-City Americans’ netminder.
Comrie came up huge for Team WHL midway through the second period, robbing Ildar Shiksatdarov with a brilliant glove save after the Russian forward made a nice move all alone in front of the WHL goal. Comrie’s glove also got the better of a breakaway attempt from Baskov late in the second period.
The WHL struck first, just 45 seconds into the game, with Griffin Reinhart of the Edmonton Oil Kings getting the goal. The New York Islanders prospect pounced on a loose puck in the slot and fired home a wrist shot, cleaning up after some nice work by Portland’s Brendan Leipsic.
Russia evened things up 14:36 into the first period when Igor Redenkov’s knuckling shot from just inside the blue line through a screen fooled Comrie. It was Redenkov’s second goal and fourth point of the series.
Alexander Barabanov put the Russians up 2-1 less than three minutes later with his first of the series, jamming in a rebound in a goalmouth scramble.
Team WHL knotted the game at 2-2 early in the second period with Portland’s Taylor Leier scoring a shorthanded marker. The 19-year-old from Saskatoon, SK, picked off a cross-ice pass at his own blue line, went in all alone on Nalimov, and made a nice deke to his backhand.
With the win, Russia now holds an 8-7 series lead over the CHL in points heading into the sixth and final game Thursday night in Lethbridge.
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 (RUS wins 3-2) – Game Summary
Game 6 – Thursday, November 28, at Lethbridge, AB
(Sportsnet ONE, and Sportsnet 590 and 960 The FAN)
For information including rosters and tickets please visit www.subwaysuperseries.ca.