|
Ryan Strome played the role of Paul Henderson as the Niagara Ice Dogs forward and New York Islanders' 2011 first round pick scored the series-winning goal at 3:20 of overtime as Canada wins the 2012 Canada-Russia Challenge, beating Russia 1-0 at the Halifax Metro Centre.
In regulation, Canada defeated Russia 4-2 to tie the series at 2-2 as Ty Rattie of the WHL's Portland Winter Hawks led the way by scoring two power play goals and added an assist. Rattie, the St. Louis Blues' 2012 second round draft pick, scored the game-tying goal as well as the game-clincher midway through the second period.
Malcolm Subban of the OHL's Belleville Bulls and the Boston Bruins' 2012 first round pick was back in net for Canada and stopped 26 shots for the win, his second of the series. His counterpart, Andrei Vasilevski (Tampa Bay Lightning's 2012 first round pick), who also last played in game one, made 41 saves for Russia, including 19 in the first period.
The game was tied at 1-1 after 20 minutes with goals by Andrei Sigarev and Lucas Lessio (Oshawa Generals, OHL; Phoenix Coyotes' 2011 second round pick), but Russia took the lead early in the second period as Albert Yarullin blasted a one-timer for the 2-1 lead. Rattie scored the game's next two goals midway through the second period giving Canada the one-goal lead and Jonathan Huberdeau (Saint John Ice Dogs, QMJHL; Florida Panthers) added the insurance goal with 5:58 left in the third period.
After 60 minutes, Canada took game four which tied the series at 2-2, so the game went to an extra session to decide the series. At 3:20 of overtime, Strome picked up the loose puck and ripped a shot from the slot that beat Vasilevski to decide the Canada-Russia Challenge.
The series is being played as a tribute to the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). The club was involved in a horrific plane crash last September that claimed the lives of the flight crew and 44 players and coaches of the team.
The four-game exhibition between the two countries also commemorates the 40th anniversary of the legenday 1972 Summit Series where Canada took on the Soviet Union. Canada won the series as Paul Henderson became a national hero by scoring the game-winning goal in the final game of the eight-game series.
Before the game, players from both of the 1972 teams were on hand for the ceremonial faceoff. Vladislav Tretiak, Yuri Lyapkin and Alexander Yakushev represented Russia while Ken Dryden, Don Awrey and Pat Stapleton were on hand for Canada. All of them received a standing ovation as well as kayaker Mark de Jonge, a Halifax, Nova Scotia native and Olympic Bronze Medalist, who received a personalized Team Canada jersey from Hockey Canada.
| 
