WC-2015. Russia - Slovenia

WC-2015. Russia - Slovenia - 5:3

3 May 2015

Russia played their second match of the 2015 IIHF World Championship in Ostrava, the Czech Republic, against Slovenia. Head coach Oleg Znarok was forced into a number of changes, with forward Danis Zaripov ruled out of the tournament due to injury. Yevgeni Malkin, Nikolay Kulyomin and Vladimir Tarasenko all came into the line-up, and Konstantin Barulin replaced Sergei Bobrovsky in net.

All the focus was on Russia before the game, and right away they took over the initiative. Slovenia didn’t want to get swamped under early, however after just six minutes they conceded. SKA captain Ilya Kovalchuk charged down the left flank alone, wristed low, and found the five hole expertly. Russia weren’t in a mood for being kind, and not long later Nikolay Kulyomin got the final touch on a huge goalmouth scramble to make it two. Vladimir Tarasenko was then denied by a sharp blocker save by the Slovenian netminder Luka Gracnar, as the pressure kept on coming deep inside the attacking zone. One minute before the end of the first period Russia then struck a potentially killer blow, as with a man’s advantage Yevgeni Dadonov completed a beautiful play on the doorstep. Slovenia for their efforts hit the target on eight occasions, with Konstantin Barulin solid when called upon.

Seconds into the second Artyom Anisimov suddenly found himself clean through, cut to the backhand, and was denied by a superb glove save when going top shelf. Slovenia then surprisingly made Russia pay for that miss, and it came out of nothing. Anze Kopitar took on a harmless wrister from distance, and somehow Konstantin Barulin let it slip under his glove. The Russians responded well though, and sharply regained their three goal lead. Artemiy Panarin weaved his magic on the left flank, squared for SKA teammate Vadim Shipachyov, and the latter did the rest. Nevertheless Russia once again took their foot off the gas, and Slovenia wouldn’t go away. Slovenia stripped a Russian defenceman of the puck, Ziga Pance would up, and the goaltender was found lacking. The nerves could have been taken away as the frame drew to a close, however Yevgeni Dadonov smacked the crossbar when closing down blocker side.

Control was taken over by Russia in the third, with the team looking to close the game out with minimal fuss. Just under six minutues into the period Yevgeni Dadonov skated over the blue line, used Artemiy Panarin for cover, and let a cannon go hard into the net. Russia were comfortable now as Slovenia struggled to get anything going, and Vladimir Tarasenko came close to his first marker of the tournament hitting only the netminder’s pads from close range. As time began to run down the Russian defence looked slightly edgy though, and another Slovenian goal worked its way in. Robert Sabolic was left alone by the right post, and he dinked it over Konstantin Barulin. That was as good as it got for Slovenia however, as Russia took their second win of the tournament with a 5:3 triumph!

Match protocol:

Russia – Slovenia – 5:3 (3:0, 1:2, 1:1)

Goals:

1:0 Kovalchuk (Dadonov, Barulin)

2:0 Kulyomin (Antipin), 04.39

3:0 Dadonov (Panarin, Shipachyov), 18.56

3:1 Kopitar (Pretnar, Kranjc), 23.14

4:1 Shipachyov (Panarin, Dadonov), 29.27

4:2 Pance, 34.30

5:2 Dadonov (Shipachyov, Panarin), 45.45

5:3 Sabolic (Ticar, Jeglic), 54.46

Goalkeepers: Barulin – Gracnar