Going into tonight’s final game in the four-game Canada-Russia Challenge, the Canadians need a win to finish with a split in the series. This comes after a 6-5 win by Russia on Monday night in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the third game of the series. It was the second straight win for Russia in the series after Canada won the first game 3-2 in Yaroslavl, Russia.

Ryan Murray, the Blue Jackets first-round draft pick earlier this summer, scored his first points of the series with a goal and assist on Monday. Murray helped Canada get on the scoreboard in the first period with a pass to defenseman Ryan Murphy, who beat goaltender Andrei Makarov to cut the Russian lead to 2-1. Murray then followed with a goal of his own when he followed up his own rebound at 17:13 of the period to tie the game.

Russia went ahead by two goals again early in the second period when Anton Ziobin scored to make it 4-2 Russia. The Canadians rallied to tie the score at four, but were outscored in the third period 2-1 for a 6-5 defeat.

Blue Jackets forward prospect Boone Jenner is also participating in this tournament for Team Canada. He has not yet registered a point through the first three games.

The four-game series is being played in honor of the members of Russian team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl who were killed in a plane crash last September.

The series also is commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1972 Canada-Russia Summit Series. The Summit Series was a series of eight games played between the Canadian and Russian national teams.

Tonight’s final game of the series begins at 7 p.m. in Halifax, Nova Scotia.



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