Eberle powers WHL win over Russia

Jordan Eberle of the Regina Pats scored a pair of powerplay goals and Chet Pickard of the Tri-City Americans turned aside all 16 shots he faced to help the WHL to a 5-0 win over the Russian Selects in Game 5 of the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge in Swift Current on Wednesday.

Eberle opened the scoring on a two-man powerplay early in the first period when he converted a rebound on a shot by Thomas Hickey of the Seattle Thunderbirds from the top of the circle and then added a powerplay marker in the second period that gave the WHL a three-goal lead.

Hickey also set up Zach Boychuk of the Lethbridge Hurricanes for a powerplay marker in the first period and Tyler Ennis of the Medicine Hat Tigers for a powerplay goal late in the second period.

Matt Calvert of the Brandon Wheat Kings counted in the third. Eberle added an assist and Jamie Benn of the Kelowna Rockets picked up a pair of helpers in the win.

“I know the WHL is known more for its defence,” Eberle said. “I think into the third period we were really pushing hard to get that shutout. Pickard played awesome and we just played a sound game.”

The WHL was four-for-eight on the powerplay while the Russians failed to connect on three powerplay opportunities.

“The powerplay was clicking tonight,” Eberle said. “It was kind of nice to get a five-on-five goal there at the end.”

Pickard said that it was easy to play behind the star-studded WHL squad.

“It was unbelievable playing in front of the D that we’ve got here,” Pickard said. “The whole team – right from the drop of the puck until the end of the buzzer – played great in front of me. They did an unbelievable job. It was an easy job for me tonight.”

Sergey Gayduchenko allowed five goals on 40 shots for the Russians, who dropped to 1-4 in the series.

The ADT Canada-Russia Challenge wraps up with Game 6 on Thursday in Prince Albert, SK (11:30 p.m. Eastern on Rogers Sportsnet).

Game Summary