Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Russians win it in shootout

Press Release

Captain Daniil Apalkov scored the game-winner in the shootout to lead Team Russia to a 5-4 win over Team QMJHL.

The Russian All-Stars wasted little time before opening the scoring. The game was not one minute old before Nikita Kucherov received a beautiful feed from centre-ice to break in on Team QMJHL goaltender Louis Domingue, beating him with a shot just over his glove.

No other goals were recorded in the first frame in large part due to the play of Domingue who stoned Kucherov on a second breakaway opportunity with only 10 seconds left in the period.

Matthew BIssonnette was the author of Team QMJHL’s first goal of the Subway Super Series. He directed a wrist shot from the face-off circle which beat goaltender Pavel Suchkov at 2:01. The goal seemed to energize the home team. Less than four minutes later, Charles Hudon entered the offensive zone with a nice burst of speed and pounced on his own rebound to put Team QMJHL up 2-1.

The Russians came out strong in the first half of the third period as Emil Galimov and fan favourite Mikhail Grigorenko put the visitors up 3-2 with back-to-back markers. Matthew Bissonnette then tied it up at three with his second goal of the game. Nikita Gusev broke it a short time later to give the lead back to the Russian All-Stars.

The crowd erupted with 15 seconds left in the game as Matthew Bissonnette completed his hat trick.

Unfortunately, the sixth shooter in the shootout, Daniil Apalkov, gave the Russians their second sweep in as many years in the Subway Super Series with a 5-4 win.

Matthew Bissonnette was named the player of the game for Team QMJHL while Mikhail Grigorenko got the honours for Team Russia.

The 2011 Subway Super Series continues tomorrow night in Ottawa with the Russians taking on the OHL All-Stars. Fans can watch the game live on Sportsnet starting at 7 pm.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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