Soviet Selects Rally for Tie With Team USA

Mikhail Vasiljev scored on a breakaway with less than three minutes left in the third period Tuesday night to give the Soviet Selects a 3-3 tie with Team USA in the finale of their eight-game exhibition hockey series.

Vasiljev scooped up a loose puck on the USA blueline and outraced the defense, beating goalie John Blue with a wrist shot to the glove side at 17:28.

The goal spoiled a comeback by Team USA, which had gained its first lead of the game 58 seconds earlier on a short-handed goal by Corey Millen.

Millen scored when he skated past the edge of the Soviet crease and lifted the puck over Aleksander Tyznyh, who was sprawled in the Soviet goal.

The tie was the first of the series, which Team USA won 6-1-1.

After a sluggish first period, Team USA began to assume control of the game, outshooting the Soviets, 16-10.

However, Tyznyh sparkled in goal for the Soviets, stopping close-in shots by Allen Bourbeau and Craig Janney and receiving some help from his goal posts, which prevented scores by Millen and Scott Fusco. Blue was also sharp at the other end, making two excellent saves on hard slap shots by defenseman Dmitry Kukushkin and a great glove save on Sergey Lapshin with a little more than six minutes remaining in the period.

The key moment of the period came in the last minute of play. Andrey Andreev was penalized for using an illegal stick at 19:37, and Fusco tied the score 12 seconds later, converting a feed from captain Brian Leetch with 11 seconds left in the period.