Cory Conacher scored the winner as Canada opened the Spengler Cup with a 2-1 victory over Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg on Saturday.

Trevor Carrick also chipped in for the Canadians (1-0-0), who got 22 saves from Drew MacIntyre.

Alexander Torchenyuk had the lone goal for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg (0-1-0), a team from the KHL. Igor Ustinsky turned aside 25 shots in net.

Carrick opened the scoring for Canada with under a second remaining in the first period on a slap shot from the left hashmarks. The puck was tipped off a Yekaterinburg defenceman's stick and into the back of the net. The play was briefly reviewed before being ruled a good goal.

The Canadians outshot Yekaterinburg 13-5 in the first period at Vaillant Arena.

Torchenyuk tied the game 1-1 with a short-handed goal on a partial breakaway midway through the second period.

Canada regained the lead at 13:15 of the second when Conacher received a saucer pass from Derek Roy before bursting down the left-hand side and lifting a backhanded shot past Ustinsky.

Yekaterinburg got into penalty trouble at the start of the third period and gave Canadians a pair of 5-on-3 opportunities, which they failed to convert on.

Canada finished the game 0 for 7 on the power play with Yekaterinburg going scoreless on two chances.

The Canadians are back in action on Monday when they face HC Davos.