Russia holds off QMJHL in Super Series finale

Igor Shesterkin made 12 of his 25 saves in the third period and Russia completed the six-game Subway Super Series by holding off the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League 3-2 in Rimouski, Quebec, on Thursday.

Russia won four of the six games against teams from each of North America's top three junior leagues. The Russians won both games against the Western Hockey League and split two games against the Ontario Hockey League and the QMJHL.

Ivan Fishchenko opened the scoring at 16:06 of the first period when he beat QMJHL goaltender Philippe Desrosiers (Dallas Stars) for his first goal of the series. Vladimir Bryukvin and Vyacheslav Leschenko, each of whom is eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft, scored in a span of 5:21 in the second period to put Russia up by three.

Shesterkin (New York Rangers) was less than 13 minutes from earning his second shutout of the series; he shut out the OHL 4-0 on Nov. 13. But Nicolas Meloche, who's also 2015 draft-eligible, scored with 12:49 remaining to break up the shutout bid, and Anthony Deluca's power-play goal with 7:29 to play cut Russia's lead to one goal.

Shesterkin, who was in goal for three of Russia's four victories in the series, made 12 saves in the first and third periods; Russia outshot the QMJHL 8-1 in the second.

Desrosiers finished with 18 saves.