WC-2015. Russia - Denmark

WC-2015. Russia - Denmark - 5:2

6 May 2015

Russia played their fourth match of the 2015 IIHF World Championship today against Denmark, in the Czech city of Ostrava. After the disappointing result against the USA head coach Oleg Znarok opted to make some changes, and they did catch the eye. Captain Ilya Kovalchuk was demoted to the fourth line with Viktor Tikhonov, Maxim Chudinov to the second, and Vladimir Tarasenko was pushed up to the third. Sergei Bobrovsky retained his place between the pipes.

It was a rather strange start inside the CEZ Arena, as not a lot was created by the Russians despite their tag of huge favourites. Denmark even earned an early powerplay, however following that Russia did begin to get going. Vladimir Tarasenko had a wonderful effort denied up close, before Yevgeni Malkin was shut down by an expert Sebastian Dahm glove save. The goal was coming, and it promptly arrived on the powerplay. Vadim Shipachyov and Yevgeni Dadonov set up Artemiy Panarin on the left faceoff circle, and Artemiy fiercely slapped in. That gave Russia some needed confidence, and Sergey Mozyakin made it two with a heavy slap shot at the high slot. Nevertheless Sergei Bobrovsky in the Russian net was tested on a few occasions, with Denmark having a 9-8 shots advantage after the first period.

Russia moved the puck about a lot better as the second got underway, and Denmark’s goaltender was being called into heavy action. Sergey Mozyakin and Nikolay Kulyomin broke away two on one, only for Nikolay to wrist into the waiting glove. The Danes were forced into taking penalties with the pressure growing, and Yevgeni Malkin blasted over from a great position to the right. Just as Russia were in control though, Denmark struck. Morten Green went for a wraparound cutting in off the right wing, and he was free to squeeze it over the line. That worried the Russians, and they had to do something to make their fans feel more at ease. A powerplay gave them the opportunity to do just that, and that vital third goal flew in. Yevgeni Medvedev wound up at the blue line, and Yevgeni Dadonov gently tipped in.

That goal gave Russia some breathing space, and they could begin the third with more assurance. They did take their foot off the gas though as the period wore on, and Denmark almost made them pay. With the Russian defence all over the place the puck trickled to the open right corner, and with Sergei Bobrovsky beaten it was somehow whacked wide. That chance seemed to knock Russia off their stride, and they did in the end concede. As Dmitry Kulikov sat in the penalty box Thomas Spelling thumped the puck from the blue line, and it cannoned into the net. You could feel the Russian nerves now, and they weren’t helped by Vadim Shipachyov missing a guilt edged opening from point blank range. Thankfully however there was to be no Danish comeback, and Russia iced the game in style. Firstly Sergey Mozyakin netted a beauty moving to the backhand clean through, and then Vladimir Tarasenko rounded things off with a superb wrister into the top right corner. 5:2, and Russia take their third victory of the tournament against Denmark!

Match protocol:

Russia – Denmark – 5:2 (2:0, 1:1, 2:1)

Goals:

1:0 Panarin (Dadonov, Shipachyov), 10.53

2:0 Mozyakin (Malkin), 13.17

2:1 Green (Spelling, Lauridsen), 29.35

3:1 Dadonov (Medvedev, Chudinov), 38.45

3:2 Spelling, 49.36

4:2 Mozyakin (Kulyomin, Malkin), 57.03

5:2 Tarasenko (Antipin, Plotnikov), 57.51

Goalkeepers: Bobrovsky – Dahm

Shots on target: 33 – 20