The Subway Super Series concluded last night with Russia taking the Series 11-7 (based on a 3-2-1 scoring format).
I was able to watch five of the six games, missing the fifth game of the series (more on that below). I was lucky enough to be able to attend game three as it was in Peterborough.
As I watched I kept a close eye on the Blue Jackets prospects, as well as the draft eligible players.
WHL
Game 1: Russia 3 – WHL 2 SO
Game 2: WHL 2 – Russia 3
A very tough go for the WHL as they outplayed Team Russia outshooting them 72-34 over the two games. Huge credit goes to the Russian goalies Denis Kostin and Igor Shestyokin who both played remarkably well.
Columbus prospect Dillon Heatherington was the lone Blue Jackets prospect playing in these games.
Heatherington did not look good in the first game. As a big guy (6’4 206) he’s not the quickest skaters and the Russians took advantage numerous times. The Russian players were able to beat him to pucks on dump-ins and targeted him on carry-ins. I had him being targeted four times allowing three controlled entries. He did not look good on any of them. He was constantly hemmed in his own end. In a game where Russia struggled offensively to get any pressure, whenever they did Heatherington seemed to be out there.
Offensively he played safe. Whenever he got the puck, it was either a quick pass to his d-partner or a quick pass up to a forward. If no pass was available he dumped it in.
The second game was much better. Defensively he used his size and strength to box out the Russian forwards so he could get the puck. He wasn’t targeted as much but when he was he did a much better job of using his reach to poke the puck away preventing a shot. He was also much more physical in this game.
He had a lot more offensive zone time mostly due to the fact he was getting more offensive zone starts. He again played it safe though. When he got the puck he either quickly shot it or dumped it into the corner. He doesn’t have the hands to make many plays when he gets the puck.
OHL
Game 3: Russia 4 – OHL 0
Goaltending was the big story again. Shestyokin was brilliant posting the 35 save shutout. Penalties were the big story as the OHL gave the Russian’s six power plays two of which they converted on.
With no Blue Jackets prospects I turned my attention to the draft eligible skaters particularly Travis Konecny.
Konecny played very well for Team OHL. He played on the fourth line so didn’t receive a ton of ice time, but when he was out there his line did a good job of tilting the ice and creating pressure. It was nice to see Konecny back on the ice as last time I saw him he suffered a concussion in a game against Plymouth.
Darnell Nurse was the big stand out. He played very well at both ends of the ice. Offensively he is a gifted skater and carried the puck up the ice with ease. He has a bomb of a shot and was not afraid to tee one up. Defensively he’s big and physical, but also has great stick work as he broke up numerous plays at the line. He should anchor Canada’s top pair in Toronto-Montreal.
Game 4: OHL 5 – Russia 1
The CHL picked up their first win with a decisive victory. The skill set of Team OHL really began to show and all that Russian puck luck came crashing to the ground. They outshot the Russians 43-32 controlling the pace of the game.
Max Domi and Josh Ho-Sang were the offensive stars leading the OHL attack combining for 3 goals and 2 assists. Both dazzled with their skill. Ho-Sang showed off his sick hands scoring on a penalty shot in the second.
With no CBJ players I was again interested in the draft eligible players. It was convenient that they all played on the same line. Carter Verhaege, Leafs third rounder in 2012, centered the line with Dylan Strome, Mitch Marner and Lawson Crouse rotating on the wings. This line may not have had the box car stats in this game but they were quietly one of the most effective lines. When they were on the ice they controlled the play, generating offensive pressure and scoring chances. Strome and Marner in particular made some really nice plays setting up Verhaeghe with some good looks.
Defensively Crouse stood out the most. He made a couple very nice plays to poke the puck and create a turnover. He was relied upon to be one of the main penalty killers for Team OHL. He was the first forward sent out there when the team took a penalty.
Mitchell Vande Sompel another draft eligible player had a strong game as well. He’s an offensively gifted defencemen with 22 points in 20 games for Oshawa, and he showed it in this game. He made a really nice touch pass helping to set up the fifth goal. He also joined the rush on occasion carrying the puck up like a forward. Played well in his own end, breaking up a 2 on 1 chance.
QMJHL
Game 5: Russia 1 – QMJHL 3
First off I must apologize for missing this game. I fully intended to watch it but for some reason it’s not under the archives of the Tournament Live package online; which is odd as both the WHL games and the OHL games are on there. Without having seen the game my commentary will be limited.
This was the first game that the Russians dominated the shot count. This was not a huge surprise as the QMJHL did not have a strong team prospect wise. They were a young team featuring eight draft eligible players. Team Russia pumped 41 shots (against just 18) at QMJHL goalie Zac Fucale including a 22-1 pounding in the third period. From reading/watching the post-game reports it sounds like Fucale stood on his head stealing a win for Team QMJHL.
Olivier LeBlanc was the lone Blue Jackets prospect playing in this game (Julien Pelletier was scratched). Looking at the box score, he didn’t factor into any of the QMJHL goals. A concern may be the two penalties he took. He took one late in the second for cross-checking and one early in the third for charging. Russia had nine power plays in the game and could not convert on one of them.
Game 6: QMJHL 2 – Russia 3
A third period rally fell short as Russia won the Super Series. Team QMJHL had a very up and down game. They played well in the first and the third but it was a poor second period that did them in. Russia destroyed the QMJHL in the second period, holding them to just one shot. The controlled the neutral zone the whole period not letting Team QMJHL get the puck across centre. Russia scored twice in the second and that was enough.
Julien Pelletier checked into this game and made his presence felt early laying a big hit in the corner. He had a very effective game overall. His line did a good job of getting offensive pressure and scoring chances. Even in that second period, when Russia had the neutral zone clogged up, Pelletier was twice able to break through the trap but both times his line mates went offside.
LeBlanc had a fairly quiet game. What I found interesting in this game was the way he was being used by Head Coach Benoit Groulx. LeBlanc was being used as like shutdown defencemen. He played on the top penalty kill unit and did not play on the power play. Personally I always thought of LeBlanc as more of an offensive player particularly due to his size of 5’11. But clearly he had the coaches’ trust, to handle the potentially lethal Russian power play.
This was a very enjoyable series and I can’t wait to see these players again at the World Juniors in December. Among the Jackets prospects I only expect Heatherington to be invited to Team Canada’s camp. Hockey Canada officials seem to love him so he has a good shot to make the team.
You can follow me on twitter @PaulBerthelot
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