WC-2015. Russia - USA

WC-2015. Russia - USA - 2:4

4 May 2015

The Russian national team played the third 2015 IIHF World Championship match today against the United States in Ostrava, the Czech Republic. Head coach Oleg Znarok opted to stick Sergei Bobrovsky in net with Konstantin Barulin his back-up, and Vadim Shipachyov’s line were demoted to third despite taking ten points in the previous win over Slovenia.

The Americans came flying out of the blocks, and directly off the opening faceoff Sergei Bobrovsky had to touch aside a Brock Nelson effort all alone. The initiative was with the USA in the opening stages, and next to burst through was eighteen year old Jack Eichel who prodded against the goaltender’s pads. The warning signs were coming, and they weren’t heeded. The puck bobbled around the Russian crease, and Trevor Lewis lifted it over the glove to score. Russia had to wake up now, and they began to carve out openings. Sergey Plotnikov got in behind the American defence, opted to shoot himself when on a two on one and couldn’t get it between post and glove. As the period drew to its close the momentum looked to be switching to the Russians, and Jack Campbell had to be alert with the world champions pressing.

Russia were determined to make life difficult for their opponents, and Sergey Mozyakin smacked the left post just as a powerplay had ended. There was feeling that something was going to happen, and so it did. Artemiy Panarin spun on the slot, brilliantly set it back to Anton Belov, and the SKA defenceman calmly hit the already empty net. The Russians however took two silly penalties after that, and were punished. On the ensuing five on three Torey Krug moved in, and wristed high into the far left corner. The mainly Russian crowd inside the CEZ Arena weren’t happy about that, and they were angered even more when Sergey Plotnikov’s bundled effort was waved off after the whistle had already been blown. America were becoming more and more cautious as time moved on, and several Russian wristers from the high slot slid inches wide of both posts.

The pressure kept on coming as the third frame got underway, however several shooting opportunities were wasted. Ilya Kovalchuk freed himself up at the doorstep only to take two air shots, and when on the powerplay no one could get set up in the attacking zone. The Americans had the game exactly where they wanted it, and when shutting down Russia’s firepower they struck again. Mark Arcobello pushed his way in off the left hand boards, used Egor Yakovlev as a screen, and fired hard past Sergey Bobrovsky. The Russians were pushed against the wall now, although they did make things interesting. Sergey Plotnikov banked the puck in off Seth Jones with a few minutes remaining, and all of a sudden Russia had hope. Despite pulling Sergei Bobrovsky for the extra skater however the third goal didn’t come, and the USA iced it with an empty netter. 2:4 today, and the team will next take to the ice on Wednesday against Denmark.

Match protocol:

Russia – USA – 2:4 (0:1, 1:1, 1:2)

Goals:

0:1 Lewis (Jones, Eichel), 06.22

1:1 A Belov (Panarin, Dadonov), 23.40

1:2 Krug (Jones, Faulk), 26.22

1:3 Arcobello (Vesey), 51.52

2:3 Plotnikov (Kulikov, Anisimov), 56.19

2:4 Nelson (Lee), 59.51

Goalkeepers: Bobrovsky – Campbell

Shots on target: 17 – 20

Penalty minutes: 6 – 6