Through three games of the 2016 CIBC Canada Russia Series, fans have been treated to one of the most closely matched and hard-fought series in the event’s 13-year history.
Russia enters Game 4 on Monday in Hamilton holding a 5-4 series lead in points, marking just the fourth time since 2003 that the encounter has entered its latter half at such a score.
Russia started the series with a 3-2 overtime win over Team WHL in Prince George on November 7th as Denis Alexeev scored just 55 seconds into the extra frame.
Team Russia shows grit against Team OHL in Game 3 of CIBC Canada Russia Series: https://t.co/xdBUv0I4x2 @John_Grigg pic.twitter.com/uIR2xm3pw5
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 11, 2016
One night later, the WHL exacted revenge in Edmonton as hometown product Tyler Benson (Vancouver Giants) had a goal and two assists in a 4-1 victory at the brand new Rogers Place.
Despite Team OHL outshooting Russia 32-25, Philadelphia Flyers first round pick German Rubtsov scored twice as the opportunistic Russians wrestled back control of the series with a 4-3 win in Game 3 on Thursday in North Bay.
With Game 4 set for Monday in Hamilton, head coach Kris Knoblauch (Erie Otters) and Team OHL know they’ll have to better if they hope to keep the series close for Games 5 and 6 in Chicoutimi and Baie-Comeau on Tuesday and Thursday.
Russia holds on for a 4-3 win in North Bay to regain @cibc #CANvsRUS series lead.
STATS: https://t.co/8aa4opdMyL pic.twitter.com/MP4xFlVaVO
— CanadianHockeyLeague (@CHLHockey) November 11, 2016
“We have a lot of guys returning (on Monday) so hopefully they can remember tonight and know what it will take to win that game,” said Knoblauch following Thursday’s loss. “I think with a little better puck management and better passes on Monday we should be able to escape their pressure,” he added. “We’ll be better prepared for Monday’s game.”
Team Russia had solid goaltending from 18-year-old Vladislav Sukhachev, bouncing back from a pair of quick third period OHL goals that tied the score 3-3 as Kirill Urakov netted the game winner with 5:26 remaining.
“We are focusing on the tactical side of things,” Russian head coach Valery Bragin told the Russian Hockey Federation following Game 4. “Despite four new players arriving, we performed a lot better than we did against the WHL. As a result, we got the win.”
The Russians have been powered offensively by the trio of captain Danila Kvartalnov, Alexander Volkov and Kirill Urakov. Kvartalnov and Volkov each have three points in the series entering Game 4.
With Russia on the upswing entering Monday’s action at FirstOntario Centre, they look to avoid a repeat of 2011 when they led the series 5-4 headed into Game 4 in Sault Ste. Marie. The CHL came back to win two of the final three games and take the series 10-7 in points.
The CHL has led 5-4 after three games on two separate occasions, going on to win both events in 2004 and 2007.
Nine new players slot into the Team OHL lineup on Monday night as they look to get back on track under Canadian National Junior Team head coach Dominique Ducharme (Drummondville Voltigeurs) when action gets underway at 7:00pm ET/4:00pm PT on Sportsnet.
