Russia slips past WHL 3-2 in Brandon
Photo: Andy Devlin
By Josh Sweetland/CHL
Brandon, MB – For just the second time in event history and the first time since 2010, Russia has defeated the WHL in both games at the SUBWAY® Super Series. Strong goaltending and steady play inside their own blueline gave the Russians a close 3-2 victory over Team WHL at the Keystone Centre in Brandon on Tuesday as Pavel Kraskovsky led the way with two goals and an assist.
Much like their shootout victory in Saskatoon on Monday, Russia was outshot heavily, but relied on the stellar play of Denis Kostin in the crease along with some opportunistic offense to steer them to victory.
Tuesday’s first period began the way Monday’s third frame ended, with the WHL dictating the pace of the game but struggling to convert offensively. Russian Head Coach Valery Bragin went back to Kostin in goal for game two after the netminder made some key saves in Monday’s shootout triumph.
The West pressured Russia nearing the midway point of the first period as Red Deer Rebels forward Conner Bleackley was stopped on a high shot off the rush. Bleackley’s line alongside Jaedon Descheneau and Tyson Baillie created some quality shots in the first, with Descheneau being turned away by the blocker of Kostin moments later.
Russia struck first as their powerplay, which only saw action once on Monday night, converted at 10:07. Brandon Wheat Kings defenceman Ivan Provorov picked up an assist in front of the Brandon crowd, feeding big centreman Pavel Kraskovsky who ripped a hard shot over the blocker of Tristan Jarry from the top of the circle.
Kostin was able to hold the West at bay through the rest of the first, providing a big sprawling save off Descheneau along the goal line inside the final minutes of the period. Russia took a 1-0 lead into the second despite trailing 12-5 on the shot clock.
Team WHL continued its offensive hunt into the second period, attempting to beat Kostin in a variety of different ways. Jake Virtanen was denied by a pad save on an early powerplay before Josh Morrissey couldn’t find the back of the net on a nicely orchestrated pass from Sam Reinhart.
With WHL chances coming and going, the opportunistic Russians struck again. Winnipeg Jets prospect Pavel Kraskovsky turned a rush down the wing into an excellent cross-crease pass to an oncoming Andrey Alexeev who tapped the puck over the shoulder of Jarry with precision at the nine minute mark.
The West couldn’t capitalize in the dying moments of the second as Josh Morrissey nearly put them on the board, jumping up into the play for a chance in a goalmouth scramble.
An early third period powerplay was just what the WHL needed to get their offensive motor running. Sparkplug blueliner Joe Hicketts stepped into a slapshot from the point that rose over the shoulder of Kostin and under the crossbar at 3:46. The Keystone Centre in Brandon exploded as Hicketts broke the offensive silence with helpers from Morgan Klimchuk and Sam Reinhart to make the score 2-1 Russia.
Down a goal, the WHL continued to mount an offensive push as Brayden Point nearly tied the score on a rebound created by Jake Virtanen. The speedy duo of Virtanen and Point connected several times throughout the game but neither player could convert for a point.
After controlling play in the Russian zone for the better part of four minutes, a quick goal on a broken play stalled the WHL momentum. Russian captain Rushan Rafikov’s low shot towards the goal was intercepted enroute, bouncing off a skate and onto the stick of a waiting Kraskovsky who potted his second of the night on the backhand at 14:01. The Russian lead was extended to 3-1.
Just 45 seconds later, Conner Bleackley gave the Brandon crowd something to cheer about as he was in the right place at the right time to bury a goal reminiscent of Cole Ully’s tying marker on Monday night. Bleackley slammed in a rebound off Tyson Baillie’s low shot on the pads of Kostin to bring the WHL within a goal.
With five minutes to play and the crowd behind them, the WHL tried to seize an opportunity to draw even against a Russian squad that appeared to be tiring as the third frame wore on. Jaedon Descheneau nearly knotted the score on a low redirection of Travis Sanheim’s point shot that was kicked aside by Kostin. Moments later Morgan Klimchuk was turned away by the shoulder of the Russian goaltender on a wrist shot.
Team WHL outshot the Russians 35-18 when all was said and done, but the fine play of Kostin and the defensive corps in front of him ultimately proved too much as Russia took a close 3-2 victory at the Keystone Centre. The win gives them a 5-1 points lead in the 2014 SUBWAY® Super Series with the scene shifting to Ontario.
WHL players certainly came away from the two game set with a great deal of respect for their Russian opponents. “They’re a tough team. They play their style and they play hard. The Canada-Russia rivalry is still alive and well,” said WHL defenceman Joe Hicketts whose third period goal ignited some momentum for a team struggling to score. “They’re probably the most physical European brand of hockey and they come right at you. It’s disappointing to lose these two games but I thought we played pretty well and did some good things out there.”
Hicketts and Provorov Post Game Comments
The weight shifts to the shoulders of the OHL in Game 3 of the 2014 SUBWAY® Series. Darnell Nurse and Team OHL look to avenge a pair of losses to the Russians last year when the puck drops at the Peterborough Memorial Centre at 7:00pm ET on Thursday. Be sure to catch all of the action live on Sportsnet One and TVA Sports.
For more information including how to purchase tickets please visit www.subwaysuperseries.ca.