Canada couldn't translate the momentum of a late regulation-time goal into an extra-time victory as it lost 3-2 in a shootout to Russia Monday night in Paradise on Day 2 of the 2019 Canadian Tire Para Hockey Cup.
At the Paradise Double Ice Complex, new team captain Tyler McGregor scored both goals for Canada (1-0-1), including a game-tying tally at 9:30 of the third period. But after an overtime frame couldn't bring the game to a conclusion, the Russians did all the scoring in the shootout, where Dmitri Lisov and Nikolai Terentev had the successful attempts against Canadian netminder Dominic Larocque.
Meanwhile, McGregor and St. John's native Liam Hickey, the Canadian shootout choices, were denied by Russian goaltender Vladimir Kamantsev.
Terentev and Airat Khamzin scored in regulation for Russia (1-1-0).
“It was tough to lose, but we’re really proud of this group; we have a lot of new guys, so to see that much improvement and stamina throughout the game is awesome,” said Hickey, who had an assist on McGregor’s second goal. “We’re all going to battle for each other, and we need more close games like that; it’s good for the team, it’s good for the sport, and it’s only going to help us down the road.”
Monday’s other game, the defending champion United States (2-0-0) blanked the Czech Republic 8-0, with Jack Wallace registering a hat trick for the Americans, Josh Pauls contributing two goals and two assists and goaltender Jen Lee recording the shutout.
None of the four teams play today, but action resumes Wednesday, with the round-robin ending that night with a game between the U.S. and Canada. That will follow a noon-time contest between the Czechs and Russians.
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