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Connecticut drops exhibition finale to Russian national team, 3-2

Connecticut's Kelly Babstock controls the puck despite pressure from Russia's Maria Sorokina Thursday night in Northford.

Connecticut’s Kelly Babstock controls the puck despite pressure from Russia’s Maria Sorokina Thursday night in Northford in a NWHL exhibition game.

NORTHFORD, Sept. 29  – The Connecticut Whale gave up a goal with 28 seconds gone in the game and then they played the Russian National Team even. But that early goal was enough as Russia ended its five-game tour through the National Women’s Hockey League with a 3-2 exhibition victory over the Whale at the Northfield Ice Pavilion on Thursday night.

Kelli Stack and Kelly Babstock had goals for Connecticut (1-1), which beat the Russians on Tuesday night in Northford by a 3-2 margin. Haley Skarupa and Ivana Bilic each had two assists for Connecticut, which outshot the Russians, 11-4 in the third period.

It was the final exhibition game of the season for Connecticut, which opens the regular season on Sunday, Oct. 9 in Buffalo. The Whale play their first six games of the season (18 games) on the road. The first home game for Connecticut is Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Northford Ice Pavilion against Buffalo at 7:30 p.m.

Connecticut's Kelly Babcock is checked by Russian Mariia Batalova in Thursday night's exhibition game.

Connecticut’s Kelly Babcock is checked by Russian Mariia Batalova in Thursday night’s exhibition game.

Russian players Olga Sosina (18, left) and Anna Shibanova (70, right) rough up Sam Faber after a Whale player ran into the Russian goalie in Thursday night's NWHL exhibition in Northfield.

Russian players Olga Sosina (18, left) and Anna Shibanova (70, right) rough up Sam Faber after a Whale player ran into the Russian goalie in Thursday night’s NWHL exhibition in Northfield.

Russia 3, Connecticut Whale 2
At Northford, CT
Russia (2-3)               2  1  0  — 3
Connecticut (1-1)       0  1  1  — 2
First period
Russia Liudmila Belyakova (Yekaterina Smolenteseva, Olga Sosina), 0:28; Smolenteseva (Fanuza Kadirova), 11:03
Second period
Connecticut: Kelli Stack (Haley Skarupa, Ivana Bilic), 1:21 (pp); Russia: Angela Goncharenko (Sosina, Nina Prugova), 18:51 (pp)
Third period
Connecticut: Kelly Babstock (Skarupa, Bilic), 16:51 (pp)
Shots on goal: Russia 24; Connecticut 25; Saves: Nadezhda Morozova (Russia) 24 saves on 26 shots; Nicole Stock (Connecticut) 13 saves on 15 shots; Shenae Lunberg (Connecticut) 9 saves on 10 shots

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Russia’s Liudmila Belyakova (10) uses her stick to slow down Connecticut’s Molly Engstrom in Thursday night’s exhibition game loss to the Russians.

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 30 years.

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