Mantha scores winner to lift QMJHL over Russia in opener of Subway Super Series

GATINEAU, Que. - Anthony Mantha scored the deciding goal and Charles Hudon scored twice to lead the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to a 3-2 victory over Russia in the opening game of the Subway Super Series on Monday.

Mantha, the QMJHL's leading scorer with 24 goals in 23 games for the Val d'Or Foreurs, broke a 2-2 tie at 15:53 of the third period.

The QMJHL's top line of Mantha, Hudon, and Jonathan Drouin, accounted for all the team's offence.

Drouin — the Halifax Mooseheads' winger who was selected third overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in this year's NHL Draft — assisted on all three goals. Hudon picked up an assist to finish the night with three points, and Mantha, a 2013 first-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings, added an assist for a two-point performance.

Ivan Barbashev of the Moncton Wildcats and Vladimir Tkachev scored for Russia (0-1-0).

Hudon, of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens, opened the scoring at 11:56 of the first period. The Canadiens prospect added another at 4:02 of the second to give the QMJHL a 2-0 advantage.

Barbashev replied for Russia halfway through the second period to cut the deficit in half, and Tkachev tied the game at 6:06 of the third period, weaving through QMJHL's defenders before firing the puck into the net.

Zachary Fucale of the Mooseheads made 19 saves for the QMJHL (1-0-0). His Russian counterpart Ivan Nalimov stopped 21 shots in the losing effort.

Russia was 0-for-5 with the man advantage while the QMJHL was scoreless in six power-play opportunities.

Game 2 of the series is Wednesday night in Sherbrooke, Que.