McDavid-less OHL Look to Salvage Win Against Russia

The CHL, and OHL, will look to bounce back after the WHL was swept by Russia in two 3-2 losses, in the Subway Super Series. Team Russia has done a good job so far with taking control of the game right off the opening draw. They have scored the game’s first two goals in the first two games of the six game series. The OHL looks to right the ship during the next two games.

The OHL may have problems on offense with a key loss in super-star Connor McDavid. McDavid suffered a hand fracture during an Erie Otters game Tuesday night, and is out indefinitely. This injury has many looking to who will step up offensively for the McDavid-less, Team OHL.

Although Connor McDavid seems like a devastating loss, The OHL roster is backed with may threats and shouldn’t have any problems getting pucks into the opposing net. Kids like Nicholas Baptiste, Travis Konecny, Michael Dal Colle, Robby Fabbri, Max Domi, Darnell Nurse, and Roland McKeown all have experiences leading a team, as most of these players are captains, or alternates, on their own junior team.

Team Russia is currently up in points 5-1, the one point for the CHL coming from the shootout loss suffered in the first game. Most of their scoring has come from Pavel Kraskovsky who has 2 goals and an assist in the two games he has played. Russia has also received shut down play from their goaltender, Denis Kostin.

Kostin will plenty of fire power to deal with though,Team OHL will have threats from all lines and even defensive pairs. The OHL roster, in my opinion is much more superior than the WHL roster that played Team Russia the past two days. Although the WHL team was more mature, they lack the skill that the OHL roster has.

Darnell Nurse will lead the way as captain of Team OHL. His alternates will be Bigras, Dal Colle, and McKeown for both games, where Robby Fabbri will be an alternate only for the second game.

Hopefully Team OHL can push back after the hole the WHL has put the CHL teams in. Team OHL plays November 13th and 17th, then the QMJHL takes over.