Euro Hockey Tour. Czech Republic - Russia - 3:0

The Russian national team travelled to Karlovy Vary in the Czech Republic to take on the hosts in the Euro Hockey Tour. SKA were represented by defenceman Dinar Khafizullin, with young goalkeeper Alexander Sharychenko being backed up by Ilya Sorokin.

The Czechs came out all guns blazing with a full strength squad, and after peppering Alexander Sharychenko’s net they opened up the scoring. Petr Koukal was found at the left of the crease, and he clinically found the far corner. After surviving a few more hairy moments the youthful Russian team began to wake up, and created plenty of opportunities as the period wore on. Andrey Loktionov couldn’t score when one on one, and then Anton Slepyshev, falling on to his knees, wristed directly into Alexander Salak glove side.

Russia continued to create openings in the second period, and Anton Glinkin failed to find the five hole when all alone with the netminder. The Czechs then went and punished the team to the full, as they pulled away with two more goals. First of all Dominik Simon went top shelf from between the circles, and then Michal Vondrka took advantage of a poor Russian team change. The Russian goalkeeper then had to make a few tough saves from point blank range, as the hosts took full charge of proceedings.

It was much a case of playing the game out as time moved on, and despite a couple of powerplays, the Russians just couldn’t get on the board. The most interesting event was saved for last, as strong forward Yevgeni Timkin challenged a couple of Czechs to a fight. That was it though, as the Czech Republic got one over Russia 3:0. The second game in Prague will take place on Saturday the 7^th of February.

Match protocol:

Czech Republic – Russia - 3:0 (1:0, 2:0, 0:0)

Goals:

1:0 Koukal (Goulas, Vondrka), 02.55

2:0 Simon (Rucinsky), 32.27

3:0 Vondrka (Kempny), 34.50

Goalkeepers: Salak – Sharychenkov

Shots: 25 - 20

Penalty minutes: 31 - 29

05.02.2015. Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. Attendance 5985.