Jesse Blacker Scores Game Winner for Canada at Sochi Open

Canada's potential Olympic team got their first taste of action on Sunday afternoon at the Sochi Hockey Open in Russia, defeating KHL club HC Sochi 1-0 in overtime to grab their first victory of the tournament.

Former Toronto Maple Leaf draft pick Jesse Blacker got the lone goal of the contest, beating goaltender Konstantin Barulin under the cross-bar after just 1:36 of play in the extra period to give the two-time defending Olympic champions the win.

Justin Peters, who last played in the NHL last season with the Arizona Coyotes, stopped all 23 shots that came his way. Peters, who had never previously played for Canada in international competition, is looking to earn a role on the team, which will likely also feature Kevin Poulin (expected to play against Russia on Monday) and Ben Scrivens.

The story of the game was Sochi's inability to score on seven power play opportunities. Former Edmonton Oilers forward Rob Klinkhammer sat out most of the third period after getting a ten minute misconduct for a hit to the head early in the first, only to get a boarding call late in the second.

Canada will play their second of two games at the Sochi Hockey Open on Monday against the Russian national team, who, like Canada, will field players looking to make the Olympics after the NHL announced they would not be sending players to the tournament.

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