Russia edges WHL in Game 5 of Super Series

Alexei Baskov scored the go-ahead goal 2:43 into the third period and Ivan Nalimov made 18 of his 42 saves in the final 20 minutes to give Russia a 3-2 victory against the Western Hockey League in the fifth game of the Subway Super Series at Red Deer, Alberta, on Wednesday night.

Nalimov, who stopped 50 shots through 65 minutes Monday in a 3-2 shootout victory against the Ontario Hockey League, made the difference again. Russia was outshot 44-25, including 18-8 in the third period.

The WHL opened the scoring 45 seconds into the game on a goal by defenseman Griffin Reinhart, the New York Islanders' first pick (No. 4) in the 2012 NHL Draft. But the Russians grabbed the lead before the end of the first period on goals by Igor Rudenkov and Alexander Barabanov.

Taylor Leier's shorthanded goal in the second period tied the game.

Eric Comrie, a 2013 draft pick by the Winnipeg Jets (No. 59), finished with 22 saves for the WHL.

Russia and the WHL finish the Super Series in Lethbridge, Alberta, on Thursday. Russia lost the first two games to the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League before winning two games against the OHL and one against the WHL.