World Cup friendly match. Russia - Czech Republic - 4:3

The Russian national team’s first World Cup of Hockey warm-up match took place today against the Czech Republic. Head coach Oleg Znarok included all SKA players in the line-up, with forwards Pavel Datsyuk, Vadim Shipachyov and Evgeny Dadonov involved.

It was a packed Yubileyny Arena in Saint Petersburg, and the teams were seriously pumped up. The puck was flying from one end to the other, and unfortunately, it was the Czech Republic who struck first. Michal Kempny slapped hard from the point, and the unsighted Sergei Bobrovsky was helpless. Nevertheless, our players didn’t drop their heads, and with one minute left in the period, we made it a tied game. Artemiy Panarin picked up the puck between the circles, twisted around his markers, and fired over Petr Mrazek’s blocker.

Russia were slowly starting to dominate, and we made our advantage count in the second stanza. On the powerplay, Vladimir Tarasenko had space on the right wing, and he lashed the puck high into the far corner. The fans inside the stadium loved that, and soon enough, they were on their feet again. A flapping Petr Mrazek couldn’t prevent a juicy rebound falling to Nikita Kucherov, and the Russian expertly found the net. As time rolled on, both teams got into penalty trouble, and with the Czechs searching for a reply, Sergei Bobrovsky made some brilliant point blank range saves.

Our players took their foot off the gas for the third period, and the Czechs duly punished us. A goalmouth scramble erupted, and after Sergei Bobrovsky stopped the initial shot, the puck rebound in off Alexei Marchenko’s skate. Russia needed a response, and midway through the period, we got it. Artemiy Panarin powered down the left flank, spread it to former SKA teammate Evgeny Dadonov, and the latter netted with aplomb. We could breathe easier again, but despite that marker, the Czechs didn’t give in. Roman Polak deflected in to draw his team back to within one, and had it not been for an outstanding late Sergei Bobrovsky save, they would have evened the match. Thankfully, our team managed to hold out, and Russia have begun their World Cup preparations with a 4:3 victory over the Czech Republic!

Match protocol:

Russia – Czech Republic – 4:3 (1:1, 2:0, 1:2)

Goals:

0:1 Kempny (Sobotka), 03.54

1:1 Panarin (Shipachyov, Dadonov), 18.29

2:1 Tarasenko (Kucherov, Markov), 25.22

3:1 Kucherov (Marchenko, Orlov), 28.38

3:2 Hanzal (Hemsky, Kempny), 46.48

4:2 Dadonov (Panarin, Shipachyov), 48.48

4:3 Polak (Palat), 57.13

Goalkeepers: Bobrovsky – Mrazek

Penalty minutes: 10 – 12

08.09.2016. SK Yubileyny, Saint Petersburg.