Jurusik’s heroics not enough

9 September 2022

Sibir Novosibirsk 4 Kunlun Red Star 0

Matt Jurusik played another formidable game against Sibir but his 39-save outing was not enough to earn points in Novosibirsk. The Dragons’ first road game of the season was decided by special teams. Unfortunately, penalty trouble cost the guys dear, with all four goals coming on the home power play.

Friday’s game brought a KHL debut for new signing Devin Brosseau. The 27-year-old forward joined another newcomer, Ivan Lisin, on our fourth line. Brosseau, who hails from Quebec, was a big hit in the NCAA with Clarkson University, where he captained the team to the ECAC title in 2019. Leadership on the ice was matched by leadership off it: he was twice shortlisted for the hockey humanitarian award on the strength of his work in the wider community. After graduation, Devin joined the Bakersfield Condors, Edmonton’s AHL affiliate. Due to the pandemic, he spent part of the 2020/21 season on loan in Austria, where he had 21 points in 34 games for Dornbirner. Last season he was a regular with the Condors, playing on the same team as ex-Dragon Adam Cracknell.

Unfortunately, this proved to be a difficult game for our new boy to make an impact. Instead, it was left to a couple of former Dragons to decide the outcome. Trevor Murphy scored two of Sibir’s goals, and Taylor Beck finished with three assists.

It was Beck who dictated the play in the first-period power play that saw Alexander Sharov open the scoring. Then, midway through the second, the Canadian was involved again as Murphy’s slap shot converted a 5-on-3 advantage.

Down by two, our guys looked to pick up the tempo at the start of the third period. Unfortunately, that determination spilled over, with Jack Rodewald ejected from the game following a hit on Vyacheslav Litovchenko. Sibir made the most of the major penalty, adding two more power play goals and putting the game beyond reach. Murphy deployed his wrist shot to make it 3-0, then Beck’s diagonal feed set up a second of the night for Sharov.

Our guys refused to give up and did their best to reduce the deficit in the closing stages. However, home goalie Anton Krasotkin was in good form and made 31 saves for his shut-out. Ultimately, though, this game was decided by the penalties. A count 35-8 in Sibir’s favor gave Red Star too much to do to remain in the game and our first road trip began on a disappointing note.

Next up, the Dragons go to Vladivostok, looking for a repeat of our 3-1 win over Admiral in our opening game of the season.