Russian hockey team wrapped up a double V-day beating Slovakia 3-1 on May 9 in their opener at 2010 IIHF World Championship in Cologne, Germany. The opposition played hard to offer an active resistance against the competition’s hot favorites Russia but could do little apart from sporadic attacks on Vasilii Koshechkin net failing to create any serious threat for him.
Maeski did score at 44th minute trying to bring back the intrigue but there was no stopping Russian team that night as they denied Slovakia late desperate storm when Viktor Kozlov hit an empty net winner in the dying seconds of the third period making it 3-1.
SVK - RUS 1-3 (0-1, 0-1, 1-1)
Goals:
1st period
1-0 - Afinogenov, 14:51
2nd period
2-0 - Ovechkin (Fedorov), 29:23
3rd period
2-1 - Maeski (Bartovic), 43:51
3-1 - Kozlov, 59:07 - SHG.
Russian forward Alexandr Frolov had to be sidelined for the next game against Kazakhstan due to a mild indisposition. Kazakhstan looked confident and a little more imaginative in the opening phase. By fourth minute, they overshot Russia 4-2 with dangerous rushes by Yevgenii Rymarev and Roman Starchenko but Alexandr Yeremenko was reliable in goal. Yet Russian team had a clear scoring chance when Viktor Kozlov and Nikolai Kulemin doubleteamed for a blank point shot when Kozlov tried to convert Kulemin’s pass. However, the Kazakh goalie did the job denying that attempt. Russia opened scoring on power play after the opponents drew a penalty at 9th minute, through great play by Oveckin-Fedorov-Semin line when Alexander the Great had a few options to shoot on his former teammate Vitalii Yeremeiev; his wrister went as powerful as it was accurate from a good diagonal assist from Alexandr Semin. Kazakhstan went on drawing bad penalties thus giving Russia an opportunity to continue their attacking effort.
Second period started with another great redlighter from captain Ilia Kovalchuk scoring his 20th in World Championships when he converted a fine assist from Semin who set him up at the opposition’s blue line. The very next attack could have ended with another goal from Ilia on a feed from defenders but he was stopped illegally forcing defending Kazakhstan player into the doghouse. That particular episode could have ended in a legal penalty shot: it was a clear one-on-one rush but the ref call was lenient: two minutes only. Russia went on overpowering their Kazakh rivals but Vitalii Yeremeiev was confident in goal. At the end of the period there came a long awaited goal from Semin whose goalless drought, apparently carried over from his dry season with Washington Caps ended, when Viktor Kozlov lost possession in opponents’ zone but Alek was quick to grab the puck stealing it from Rymarev and hit Yeremeiev’s fifth hole with an accurate wrist shot.
Final period evidenced some more spectacular events – 44th minute saw a goal scored by defenseman Denis Grebeshkov who acted like a pro forward on a feed from actual star forward Maksim Afinogenov forcing Yeremeiev off position on a great fake. Anisimov line also excelled with some marvelous cohesiveness where Moziakin and Sushinskii were standout soloists. They could have scored more than once; however, either Yeremeiev denied their attempts or attackers missed on a number of scoring chances. Yet Kazakhstan managed to produce capitalizing on Sushinski’s penalty when Dmitri Dudarev surrounded by four defending Russians brilliantly tallied from the slot converting a feed. Yeremeiev and Kovalchuk were named the game’s MVPs.
RUS – KAZ 4:1 (1:0, 2:0, 1:1)
Goals:
1st period
1:0 - Ovechkin (Semin, Fedorov), 10:20 - PP
2nd period
2:0 - Kovalchuk (Semin), 20:42
3:0 - Semin, 37:55
3rd period
4:0 - Grebeshkov (Afinogenov, Kulemin), 43:22
4:1 - Dudarev (Shafranov), 57:59 - PP
Penalties: 6:10
Next opponent for Russia to take on were Belarus. The game turned pretty dynamic and exciting at times, with a lot of scoring chances both ways, but not so complicated for Bykov - Zakharkin wardship.
Alexandr Semin drew a penalty in the 1st minute into the action however Russia successfully killed that early penalty. As Semin left the penalty box, Ovechkin, after an individual slalom breakaway moving from his right wing toward center ice fired a powerful wrist shot only to see Alexandr Mezin’s good save. On Russia’s power play at 10th minute Kovalchuk hit the goal post and shortly after Sushinskii made a very good pass to Moziakin waiting at an empty corner of the net; the puck eventually went in, however clumsily. Grabovski, an NHL and Belarus star forward put on an impressive performance as usual but on the whole Belarus team created no real threats for Semion Varlamov in his first appearance in goal for Russia with 11-2 shots ratio in the period.
Second period saw some wake-up action from Belarus; Demagin’s shot on a breakaway was coolly saved by Varlamov. At this very moment Tereschenko drew a penalty but despite playing one man down Russians produced a fast counterattack through Maksim Afinogenov and Ilia Nikulin who took the shot but Mezin denied that effort with a brilliant save. In a return attack by Belarus team Afinogenov drew a tripping penalty whereafter Russians played 3-on-5 over 50 seconds successfully killing that penalty in the long run. By 8th minute into the second period Belarus overshot Russia 6-1 and continued trying to attack but that was clearly an inertia short lived effort while Russia gradually were building up pressure. The pressure paid off when Ovechkin picked up a loose puck at center ice in the Belarus zone, made a pivot and took a wrist shot that turned unexpected for their defensemen and Mezin – the puck landed hit the net over the goalie’s shoulder. In less than two minutes, the show was factually wrapped up as Moziakin attempted to score on a solo breakaway, receiving a brilliant feed from Atiushov at the blue line and trying to beat the Belarus netminder Mezin but instead only cut into him. Artem Anisimov was right there to pick up the deflection thus scoring his first goal in a top level contest. Sushinskii in a friendly gesture toward the young teammate brought that puck to the Russian bench as a keepsake.
Third period resembled the second – Belarussians again tried to bring in some more aggressive action, which faded away soon though. Semin again hit bad luck despite his many shots, which were stopped either by Mezin or by metalwork, or went wide. At 48th minute Alexei Kaliuznyi did score on Varlamov tipping it in from the slot when Konstantin Korneiv failed to cut the episode short. Our old and friendly opposition tried hard to catch on that goal after a magnificent slot feed from Grabovski and it was a superb save by the Russian backstop that helped the team to stay in the comfortable two goals lead. The remainder of the game was a one-man show for Mezin who stood off numerous shots by Russian starred powerhouse.
Confident win for Russia finishing preliminary round on top of Group A
RUS - BLR 3-1 (1-0, 2-0, 0-1)
Goals:
1st period
1-0 Moziakin (Sushinskii, Nikulin), 10:45 PP
2nd period
2-0 Ovechkin (Fedorov), 32:21
3-0 Anisimov (Moziakin, Atiushov), 34:03
3rd period
3-1 Kaliuzny (Ugarov), 47:30
Goalies: Varlamov - Mezin
Penalties: 6-8
Qualification round opener against host nation Germany turned pretty hard for favorites Russia. Bundes Manschaft put on an impressive show of cohesive teamwork and won’t let Russians steamroll them as many expected. Pavel Datsiuk, the late arrival in the Russian camp from Detroit Red Wings took one of the remaining vacancies on the roster.
Kovalchuk broke the goose egg at 15th minute on a simple but effective play when he teamed with Frolov and Yemelin. On the whole, our team played confident, controlled hockey
Second period brought more excitement when Germans tried to break the flow but the Russians kept control over the neutral zone. All the more interesting was a tieing goal when Christian Erhoff scored simultaneously with the siren (refs had to spend five minutes to clear the situation with the video judge to come up with their verdict). By that time Russia had already two goals advantage lead with a tally from Kulemin earlier in the period.
Germany made the third period real hard for Russia until Ovechkin scored his fourth goal in as many games bringing Russian flag waving torcida occupying the Cologne Arena to their feet. Alexandr Barta scored with six minutes remaining whereafter Germany pulled the goaltender but to no avail as Russia preserved the 3-2 final score.
RUS - GER 3-2 (1-0, 1-1, 1-1)
Goals:
1st
1-0. Kovalchuk (Frolov, Yemelin), 14:20
2nd
2-0. Kulemin (Afinogenov, Kozlov), 26:10
2-1. Erfoff (Wolf, Hoschpelt), 39:59
3rd
3-1. Ovechkin (Ñåìèí), 49:46
3-2. Barta (Kreutzer, Felski), 53:39
Goaltenders: Varlamov - Kochnev
Penalties: 8-8
In a match against Denmark Russian ranks were further fortified by two in-flying Pittsburg Penguins Yevgeni “Gino” Malkin and Sergei Gonchar. It’d be relevant to remind our readers that in their previous game against allegedly also-ran Denmark raked Slovakia over the coals in sensational trouncing the solid Slovak team scoring six straight goals in the first period calmly finishing the rivals in the next two.
Likewise, the Danes played skillful hockey against Russia in the opening phase but class took the toll as it were. Datsiuk opened the scoring as a result of a remarkable play involving Malkin with his drop pass to Kovalchuk who repeated the move setting up Datsiuk for a blank point shot. Toward the end of the period Alexandr Ovechkin scored shorthanded goal (his fifth in as many games). Atiushov carrying the puck joined Ovi on a breakaway, feeding Alexander the Great who made it with one touch finishing shot. Again the game officials had to turn to video judge so fast and powerful was that shot. The goal stood.
The Danes managed to recap one goal when Dmitri Kulikov was serving double minor for high sticking and Kristensen converted Regin’s feed at 26th minute. Ovi had an excellent scoring chance when he found himself in alone but his point blank shot hit the crossbar. Finally the new arrival Malkin scored his own opener on a cool pivot turn in front of the net and put the puck in past Danish goaltender.
Datsiuk was most effective in the remaining time. First, he made it out with Danish goalie on an assist by Malkin setting him up with a pass from behind the net. Then, capitalizing on Danish handling the puck penalty at 51st minute, he made a simple but elegant move faking Danish puckstopper driving it home. To say that he furnished a surprise would be an exageruation considering Pavel’s numerous tricks with Detroit Red Wings..
Finally, Nikolai Kulemin converted the overwhelming Russian effort on assist from Afinogenov. 6:1 – nice and confident win. for.
DEN - RUS 1-6 (0-2, 1-1, 0-3)
Goals:
1st period
0-1. Datsiuk (Kovalchuk, Malkin), 15:07
0-2. Ovechkin (Fedorov, Atiushov), 19:12 SHG
2nd period
1:2. Kristensen (Regin, Green), 25:02-PP
1:3 Malkin (Kovalchuk, Datsiuk), 33:40-PP
3rd period
1:4. Datsiuk (Malkin, Ê Kovalchuk), 47:51
1-5. Datsiuk, 50:51-PS.
1-6. Kulemin (Afinogenov, Anisimov), 52:26
Goaltenders: Andersen - Koshechkin
Penalties: 10 -12
Qualification round last game against Finland was to become the decider as to who wins Group E and goes on to take on Team Canada in QFs. Canadians got beat by Czech Republic 2-3 and arranged an almost bench emptying brawl that was provoked by Kory Perry’s tough body check against Czech netminder Tomas Vacuum when Canada scored their second goal.
First period flew on one breath as spectators could hardly took their eyes off on-ice action to watch media cube replays of the exciting moments that were mushrooming all through the first period. Rather predictably Finns took to an early fore checking; first scoring chance came for Hussy Yokkinen who worked up the puck coming down from behind the net with his hand and He had plenty of time to put it in and when he did shoot, Varlamov warded off the threat with a superb shoulder save. Then came a miracle series of the puck hitting the goal posts and crossbars both ways. For instance Finns hit the pipes four times in 11 minutes. One trying situation for Russia came when Finland had 1,8 minutes to play two men up (on Kulikov and Yemelin penalties) but the team killed that double penalty successfully. Leaving the sin bin Kulikov received a feed taking him in alone toward the opposition’s net. He failed that chance but made a Finnish player to commit a foul and a penalty. Those two minutes, although unproductive, were an impressive showing of power play patterns performed by the Russian NHL stars Datsiuk, Ovechkin, Gonchar and Malkin when they won’t even let Finns out of heir end, keeping goalie Vehanen busy. The Finnish netminder demonstrated a couple of miracle stretching saves. The next Suomi penalty led to a rather curious goal when Ovechkin tried to fire a slap shot but the puck slid off his stick blade turning into a feed for Semin who repeated the “trick”. As a result of those chance deflections the puck turned loose in the slot where Fedorov was all alone picking it up and driving it home without fail. Toward the end of the period Finns grabbed more penalties allowing Russians to dominate the game.
Russian team started second period on power play carryover continuing the siege of Vehanen’s domains. But the goalie warded off all the threats for a time being. It looked as Finns liked to workout on penalty killing patterns when they went on drawing penalties making it “a hard day’s night” for Vehanen who did another number of great saves that no doubt will be included on all hockey text books. However, that situation could not stay on endlessly Kovalchuk capitalizing on Finnish blunder pass in their end picked up the puck, worked it up with the skate and fed Malkin who only had to miss hitting the goaltender with that souvenir chance. In just 10 seconds, Kulemin finished the tiered Finnish side. And, though this merry show went on it was clear enough Russia will be the team to play Canada in QF.
Third period turned into formality as the score had grown by the 43rd minute to 5-0 for Russia. First it was Alexei Yemelin’s thunderous blue line slap shot which Vehanen appeared not to have seen as puck entered the net behind him. Shortly after Maksim Afinogenov, a standout through the match on an excellent solo breakaway put an impressive full stop on that game. Malkin and Co. continued to build up pressure but both he and Ovechkin failed to score. But then the Red Machine’s comeback after years of stalemate and turmoil, recorded 25th straight win at ÈÈÕÔ World Championships (the winning streak starting at Moscow-2007 Worlds’ 3rd place match)
RUS - FIN 5-0 (1-0, 2-0, 2-0)
Goals:
1st period
1-0. Fedorov (Semin, Ovechkin), 16:42-áîë
2nd period
2-0. Malkin (Kovalchuk, Gonchar), 33:52-áîë
3-0.Kulemin (Afinogenov, Anisimov), 34:02
3rd period
4-0. Yemelin (Kovalchuk), 42:15
5-0. Afinogenov (Kulikov), 42:55
Goaltenders: Varlamov - Vehanen
Penalties: 22-32
In Quaterfinal Russia were able to beat archrival Canada in a convincing manner.
Tough action characteristic of the matches between the two old time opponents was again in effect with conflict situations springing up all over the ice keeping the crowd awake from first to last second. First period was noted for arhythmical flow compared to the next two and slow tempo. This impression may be subjective as both teams played the kind of hockey people around throughout world.
Dangerous Russian attacks were countered by Team Canada which, in turn were shut off by Semen Varlamov who put out a standout performance. Toward the end of the 1st period Maksim Afinogenov made a brilliant move shifting from right wing to center ice in the opposition’s zone opened scoring. It-‘d be worth noting that despite two power play situations Russian team failed to produce any serious threat on Mason. The action ended with Yemelin going to penalty box with16 seconds remaining, and a good brawl where Steve Stamkos, No. One scorer of the NHL regular season was a prominent personage.
As a result the two teams started second period at even strength playing 4-on-4. In less than two minutes the only Olympic gold medalist Kory Perry went off to the sin bin which was his second penalty. And, a minute after in 4-on-3 action Datsiuk wasted no time scored a spectacular putaway on assist from Gonchar near the goal crease sending the rubber under the cross bar over Mason’s shoulder. Then Malkin scored at 38th minute on a great feed from Kovalchuk, and straight into the fifth hole, - again on power play with Perry (who else?!) in penalty box. Again, as in the 1st period, this one too finished with a bench emptying fracas where chief provoker Downy and Burns, while Korneev and Malkin were main characters for Russia.
Third period brought some more live action with a great deal of exciting but most importantly – final result. First, Fedorov was on time to tip it in following Atiushov long shot. Unable to oppose Russians with any sensible action Canadians as usual took to fighting and rough play but even there they gained little success. The same Downy and Ott tried to make it out with Afinogenov and Fedorov to no avail result wise. All they could do was score by John Tavares who beat Varlamov shortly after leaving the penalty box and allow an empty net goal with 3 minutes remaining (second goal for Malkin)/ Then Duchesne put a final score for Canada at this tournament at 5:2 – convincing win for Russia. It goes without saying the game was to end in another fisticuffs spree.
RUS - CAN 5-2 (1-0, 2-0, 2-2)
Goals:
1st period
1-0. Afinogenov (Atiushov, Kulikov), 19:02
2nd period
2-0. Datsiuk (Gonchar, Kovalchuk), 21:45-PP
3-0. Malkin (Kalinin, Kovalchuk), 37:31- PP
3rd period
4-0. Fedorov (Atiushov), 47:31
4-1. Tavares (Burns), 53:52
5-1. Malkin (Kovalchuk, Nikulin), 56:56-PP
5-2. Duchesne (Kviski, Maers), 59:46
Goaltenders: Varlamov - Ìason
Penalties: 30-48
Semifinal game against Germany turned as hard fought as their previous encounter in preliminary group stage (3-2 for Russia).The close score should be explained by solid hockey displayed by host team and certain relaxed manner of the Russian team in the first period of that game in question.
It’d be difficult to justify those penalties that Russian players in the course of the 2nd period. Malkin who nearly scored few minutes back but hit the goal post was the first to go to the dog house. At 12th minute Nikolai Kulemin drew match penalty. One may argue if that penalty – boarding - was fair as Kulemin hit Korbian Holzer who was not firmly on his feet before the hit but ref’s decision stood and Kulemin was thrown out of the game. First 50 seconds Team Russia, two men down, were successfully killing 3-on-5 with brilliant play by Koshechkin in goal but shortly after Malkin had left the penalty box Alexei Yemelin followed suit for two minutes. Germany’ second attempt at capitalizing on 2 men advantage eventually worked. Christian Erhoff shot from blue line and Marcel Gosch drove the puck rebounded off Koshechkin shin pads. End of the period went under Russian control but the score was never tied up before the break.
At the start of the 3rd period Russian team went on storming German defenses but, given that overwhelming advantage all shots stuck in skilful defensive tactics displayed by German players and orchestrated by their bench boss Uwe Krupp – an ex pro defenseman. Meanwhile sporadic but dangerous sallies by German counter attackers brought justifiable anxiety into the mood of numerous Russian fans especially when Malkin made a blunder cut-off on Russia’s power play allowing Sch&252;tz to rush in alone but, luckily, Kosheckin rescued his team mates. Then another 2-on-1 German breakaway took place, which, again, was warded off by Koshechkin’s skillful save. However, this spell of chances for Germany could not go on endlessly. At 32nd minute Kovalchuk skated with the puck deep into the attacking zone, passed it out to supporting Sergei Gonchar who fed Malkin positioned at blue line with one touch pass. Gino’s shot went perfect in timing – Zepp could not react. Then, toward the end of the period Dmitri Kulikov assisted by Malkin and Kovalchuk could have scored when he found himself in alone but hit the crossbar from blank point. Paradoxically, despite Russian team’s overall advantage, shots on goal registered 20 -15 in favor of… Germany.
Third period went as hard as the previous two. All through the end German players followed with customary German painstaking accuracy the assignment set by their head coach, while Russian team’s numerous attacks were waived off time after time, either by bad lick or by opposition’s tactically skillful defensive play. Bundes Manschaft with customary German painstaking accuracy went on sticking strictly to their coach’s game plan up to the very end of the match while for Russia goals just won’t come; Kovalchuk, Malkin, Kozlov – all had good chances but Robert Zepp kept performing miracles in the net. Crucial moment came 1 minute and 50 seconds remaining in the game with Pavel Datsiuk great decider goal: he stole the puck at his blue line, broke away at great speed accompanied by his line teammates. They had only one defenseman in front; Pavel convincingly showed he’d pass out to a teammate but shot himself accurately and powerfully enough to the near upper corner of the net finishing this thriller game 2:1 for Russia. We’re in the final. Third year running. Way to go, Russia!
Next opponent – Czech Republic for the gold medal game. Face-off at the summit 22.30 Moscow time.
RUS - GER 2-1 (0-1, 1-0, 1-0)
Goals:
1st period
0-1. Gosch (Sch&252;tz, Erhoff), 15:30-PP
2nd period
1-1. Malkin (Gonchar, Kovalchuk), 31:07
3rd period
2-1. Datsiuk, 58:10
Goaltenders: Koshechkin – Zepp
Penalties:
31 - 10
The gold medal game Russia bowed to Czech Republic 1-2. The only goal scored by Russia came from Pavel Datsiuk in the last minute.
First goal by Czechs was scored at 20th second into the first period when Yaromir Yagr intercepted Konstantin Korneev’s pass and fed Klepis who, unguarded, wasted no time putting it in. At the end of the period Russia seemed to have equalized but it was fractions of a second too late…
Russian team went on building up pressure all over the ice on Vokoun’s net but instead allowed a second goal into their own. Czech captain Rolinek connected with his skate a feed from ex Moscow Dynamo’s forward Rahunek after Ovechkin and Fedorov collided in the opponents’ end. Video judge ruled it a goal.
Third period consisted of stubborn attacks which was cut short by match penalty to Yemelin. Controvertial call, to put it mildly – his classic hip check on Yagr was hardly worth even 2 minutes. However officials’ appraisal was 5 + 20. Russia stood off killing that penalty and, finally, scored on power play – all they had time to do..
RUS - CZE 1-2 (0-1, 0-1, 1-0)
Goals:
1st period
0-1. Klepis (Yagr), 00:20
2nd period
0-2. Rolinek (Rahunek), 38:13
3rd period
1-2. Datsiuk (Kovalchuk, Gonchar), 59:24
Goaltenders: Varlamov - Vacuum
Penalties: 31-10
The Ice-hockey Federation of Russia
