It’s a good thing hockey games are at least 60 minutes long, not 59:30!

That’s what Team W-H-L said after recording a 2-1 overtime victory over Team Russia before 7,425 fans at SaskTel Centre Wednesday night. It looked like the Russians were going to claim a 3-2 lead in the six-game C-I-B-C Canada-Russia Super Series, leading 1-0 going into the final three minutes of regulation. But, Team W-H-L caught fire on a late power play and Vancouver Giants’ defenceman Bowen Byram scored with 22 seconds left, shortly after expiration of the man advantage to force extra time. Lethbridge Hurricanes’ blue-liner Calen Addison potted the winning goal at 2:04 of O-T, beating Russian netminder Amir Miftakhov high to the glove side. At the other end, Saskatoon Blades’ goaltender Nolan Maier stopped 25 of 26 shots, the lone blemish being a Maxim Sorkin tally just 5:41 into the contest. Game 6 goes Thursday night at 7:30 at the Art Hauser Centre in Prince Albert. Following is the official game summary from the C-H-L…

Team Russia 1 at Team WHL 2 (OT) – Status Final OT1
Wednesday, November 13, 2019 – SaskTel Centre

Team Russia 1 0 0 0 – 1
Team WHL 0 0 1 1 – 2

1st Game Period-1, Team Russia, Sorkin 1 (Malyshev, Telegin), 5:41 (PP). Penalties-Woo Whl (hooking), 4:06; Mikhailov Rus (tripping), 16:33.

2nd Game Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Telegin Rus (roughing), 9:56.

3rd Game Period-2, Team WHL, Byram 1 (Cozens, Foote), 19:38. Penalties-Savunov Rus (slashing), 0:29; Chyzowski Whl (tripping), 7:54; Podkolzin Rus (hooking), 17:24.

1st OT Game Period-3, Team WHL, Addison 1 (Byram, Maier), 2:04. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Team Russia 9-10-6-1-26. Team WHL 9-5-10-2-26.
Power Play Opportunities-Team Russia 1/2; Team WHL 0/4.
Goalies-Team Russia, Miftakhov 1-0-2-0 (26 shots-24 saves). Team WHL, Maier 1-0-0-0 (26 shots-25 saves).
A-7,425
Referees-Fraser Lawrence.
Linesmen-Chad Huseby (59), Cody Huseby.