Goal plus provocation in overtime: Quebec team snatched victory from Russia in the youth Super Series match

The Youth Super Series, which started with a bright victory for the Russian team, moved to the city of Moncton for the second match. The sympathies of the fans in this game should have been divided. After all, for the local Wildcats, in addition to several Canadians, Alexander Khovanov plays. In the first meeting with the QMJHL team, he, together with Yegor Sokolov and Dmitry Zavgorodniy, gave a real scoring show, which brought the first two points of the national team.

For the second game, the youth head coach Valery Bragin made Khovanov's first link, and Ivan Morozov - Danil Savunov - Vasily Podkolzin re-qualified to the third, not meeting expectations. The mentor also called three newcomers - Yegor Stepanov, Lev Komissarov and Zakhar Shablovsky. The coach urgently needed to find someone to replace the legionnaires when the team moved to Ontario, and they would remain at their main place of work.

The last change in the composition concerned the goalkeeper position. Instead of Daniil Isaev, the game was started by Amir Miftakhov. However, the goalkeeper's debut in the Super Series did not work out. Already in the second minute, Rafael Lavoie launched a puck under his shield. Realizing that Canadians would take advantage of any mistake, if they only give a chance, Miftakhov further stood at the gate more confidently. The next 12 throws in the first period he repelled.

The Russians attacked even more often, but it was not possible to equalize the score for a long time. Just before the break, the balance was restored - the striking three from Quebec again distinguished themselves, scoring all four goals in the first match. More precisely, this time almost everything was done by Yegor Sokolov. He himself organized an exit from the defense, broke through the flank, delivered the first shot and then finished off the puck.

The second period began almost the same as the first. Canadians again left the locker room more charged for the fight and shot Miftahov’s gates. Only now the response of the Russians was not long in coming. Zavgorodny in a mirror image depicted Sokolov's goal, leaving behind the melted ice on the left flank. Bragin could at the same time be glad that such nuggets had joined the team, and grieve that no one else in the team wasted such goals.

The most powerful passage of Zavgorodny. Well, just a miracle goal! # CANvsRUSpic.twitter.com / OhpKhdCwu5

Even when the Russian team took the lead, and the player from the Russian club scored, the legionnaire did not do without help. At the 31st minute, Nikita Aleksandrov gave a pass for a dribble from behind the goal, and already there the puck was played by 17-year-old Maxim Groshev. The joy of the goal was short-lived. Almost immediately, the Canadians won a throw-in at their goal, evened the score.

Zavgorodny tried to regain the leadership of the team, but the puck flew into the post, then past the gate. Until the end of the second period, there was still a little time, but after the removal of Podkolzin, the Russians calmed the ardor. After the break, the guests played for 20 minutes from the defense, never having figured out how to end the match before the final siren.

In extra time, Podkolzin finally pulled himself together, who accumulated a lot of mistakes and rash actions during the match. The striker picked up the puck in the center and rushed to the Canadian goal, but he was pushed behind by a defender. Podkolzin not only fell, but also hit the gate, having been injured. The judges spread their hands and did not begin to remove the offender.

And the succession of failures did not end there. Canadians took possession of the puck, Xavier Simono broke through to the right and made the transfer of Lavoie, who immediately made an accurate shot from an average distance. He celebrated his victory goal with a “bird” - a corporate gesture of Evgeny Kuznetsov, for which he was accused of provocation and disrespect for the opponent.

Raphael Lavoie the OT hero 🇨🇦 @ EdmontonOilers prospect and @HFXMooseheads star snipes the @QMJHL winner from the slot in Game 2 @ cibc # CANvsRUS 🎥 pic.twitter.com/lTiqsTDHdq

After the match, Bragin said that the conceded goals were a consequence of the old problems of the team, which will have to be eliminated.

“We will correct the errors. When they began to play correctly in the third period, the opponent had no particular moments. We entered the game hard, goalkeeper Miftakhov helped out many times, left us in the game. They started playing after they rolled out. The second and third periods were not bad, and in general the match is not bad. It's a shame to lose in overtime, but it's hockey, ”Brahmin quotes the FHR press service.

The mentor also allowed goalkeepers to rotate in the remaining Super Series matches.

“While we think, probably, we will alternate goalkeepers. A break day is now needed - there is a long flight ahead, we are going to Ontario, there is a fresh opponent waiting for it. Our guys from the Quebec League were told that we are in touch, we will follow them, ”added Bragin.

In turn, Dmitry Zavgorodniy admitted that he liked the game of the Russian team.

“Despite the fact that we lost today, the impressions were good. The guys fought, it seems that they feel better. I think that they will continue to add from game to game. The opponent prepared, tried to keep the puck longer, used his chances. We had good speeds, won the neutral zone, played a great pass. In this Russian team I liked creativity, speed and the fact that all the guys can and can play the pass, in our Russian hockey, ”Zavgorodniy said.

The striker also noted that he hopes to play at the youth world championship in the Czech Republic: “I am going to the club in a good mood, I will try to continue to play well. I really want to get to the World Cup. Now it’s clear that we have the potential and understanding of what to add. ”

On November 7, the Russian team will play with the Ontario Junior League team, which is traditionally considered a stronger opponent. This will be the 99th youth match in the Super Series.