Jesse Blacker scores in OT to give Canada win at Sochi Hockey Open

Former NHLer Jesse Blacker is auditioning for Team Canada. (Michael Dwyer/AP)

SOCHI, Russia — Jesse Blacker scored 1:36 into overtime to lift Canada’s men’s hockey team to a 1-0 win over HC Sochi on Sunday in its first game at the Sochi Hockey Open.

Blacker took a pass from teammate Justin Azevedo and his shot deflected off a Sochi stick to beat goaltender Konstantin Barulin.

Justin Peters earned the shutout for the Canadians.

"We played a really solid game from start to finish," Peters said. "We had a lot of opportunities to score — their goalie played really well — and they turned it on a bit in the third period and we were able to hold the fort."

Canada plays Russia Monday in its second and final preliminary round game with a spot in the final on the line.

The tournament is being used as an evaluation process for head coach Willie Desjardins ahead of next year’s Olympics in Pyeongchang.

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